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Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals snow heroes
14 January 2010
News for staff, patients and visitors at the Churchill, Horton General and John Radcliffe hospitals.
This couldn't wait for the next issue of ORH News …
ORH snow heroes
The recent snowy weather has presented the Trust with many challenges. We are pleased to say however, that we have coped pretty well... so far. We have experienced disruption but on the whole we have been able to keep things going – thanks to the dedication and commitment of our staff.
We asked staff to name names and tell us who they thought deserved a special thanks for their efforts during the snowy weather.
We know there are many more people who have put in a massive effort to help make things easier for colleagues and patients during this difficult time – far too many to mention personally – so please accept a more general 'Thank you' to everyone for pulling together.
There are also a lot of people who, despite their best efforts, could not get into work and have been working from home, keeping in touch with their colleagues via email and telephone. We know your commitment has been appreciated, so our thanks to you too.
Jo Farrar
Interim Director of Finance and Performance
standing in for Paul Farenden, Interim Chief Executive (who is on holiday).
This is what staff told us.
Thanks to...
Ward 15 - Jacky Redgewell and Celia Cassidy who stayed on site during the snowy weather to maintain patient care during a very busy week for Urology.
Geoffrey Harris Ward - Sister Alison Flawn who made a very long journey on Wednesday last week to be on the ward to provide patient care and manage the ward while simultaneously juggling childcare arrangements for her two young children. Alison has been very modest in return and thanks all her team for their heroic efforts
Dermatology - Nurse Helen Hobbs who travelled in from Milton Keynes each day. Joan Mazey who walked in every day from Rose Hill (4 miles) to make sure the dermatology department was unlocked and clinics ready.
Emergency and Vascular Surgery - Sister Liz Barber and Team Leader Jane Bolley who stayed overnight and covered extra shifts.
Carillion Estates Team - David Cox, Jason Hemmings, Andrew Duncan, Biedran Wojciech, Steve Evatt, Muhammad Asgher, Tony Smith and Kevin Glennie who made a terrific effort to be on-site keeping roads, pavements and the helipad clear for the West Wing and the Children’s Hospital.
Churchill Estates team - Roger Dimbleby, Estates Operations Manager, has been praised for his leadership and efficiency in ensuring that the Churchill site was kept as clear as possible. Congratulations and thanks have also been sent to his team, including Bob Worrell, Richard Clark, Pat Mcarthy, Sean Joyce, Andy Spencer, Phil Johnson, Phil Bower, Derek Millar, Eddie Carrington and all the other 'snowmen' who have been shovelling and gritting all week long.
The Estates Team has been lavished with praise. Jim Tinsdeall, Senior Estates and Facilities Manager, sends thanks to all the Estates team, including: Neil Hemmings, Peter Dooley, Mace Trinder, Richard Asleford, Pat Boyce, Bob Tarrant, Steve Warren, Wayne Dibsdall, Michael Nyahoda, Dave Himpson, Steve Ranger, Mike Tilbury, Tom Walsingham, John Newbold, Pete Hulbert, Lucas Stanisz and David Barton.
Radiology - Desmond Cummings has been covering for colleagues and they are extremely grateful for his dedication. Debbie Tolley nominates Anne Dunbar, Radiology Manager, JR. Anne got in to work every day. She spent all day, every day ensuring that the service was staffed appropriately, arranging accommodation, transport and meals for staff and communicating this effectively to the radiology team. She had to do this for the radiology services across the JR site, and she worked from 7.30am - 6.00pm every day. We are very grateful for her hard work, commitment and care for the staff and service.
Theatres - Fiona Beveridge says theatre staff have been working extra hours, covering shifts and working on days off to ensure theatres were kept open. As a result the John Radcliffe Hospital and the Women's Centre had no cancelled operations as a result of reduced staff levels. Helene Carter and Ros White were the senior staff on duty on the first day and did a fantastic job of organising things.
Helene Carter, Senior Sister in General Anaesthetics, slept on site for the first night of the snow, and then all over the weekend as well.
Anaesthetist, Kirsten May got a lift from a local farmer and his quad bike to help her get into work at the Horton General Hospital.
Labs - Lorraine Clarke and all her colleagues who worked to keep the labs going.
Several people thanked the management team for their efficiency and noted that the emergency planning paid off!! John Campbell, Associate Director of Nursing, was duty executive throughout the snowy period. When told of the thanks sent to him, he modestly offered his sincerest thanks to everyone else in return!
Janice Billington, Medical Secretary – walked to the John Radcliffe Hospital from Kennington on the first day of the snow. Well done.
Tim Steer, Medical Navigator for AGM/Geratology, walked across snowy fields (for two miles) to reach public transport and find his way to work... on time!
Therapists at the Horton General Hospital - Liz Ellis, Physiotherapist and Louise Westerman, Occupational Therapist, couldn't get into work at the Horton General Hospital so they walked to Chipping Norton Community Hospital from their homes in Over Norton. They helped out with meals and general duties and were a real support to the community hospital staff.
Sue McNiven, Horton PALS, has been walking to work in the snow to keep the PALS office going. It's a four mile round trip but she says it's been good to have a chance to walk off the Christmas chocolates!!!
Therese Crawley would like to give a special mention to Thiago Lima, Clinical Technologist in Medical Physics. Thiago was on annual leave, but when he saw the weather he realised colleagues might not get into work in the radiopharmacy, so without being asked, he took it upon himself to come in and start work until they arrived. Thiago came in at 7.00am, from his leave, on the first snowy day!
Staff have nominated Carol Hutcheon, temp on main reception, JR who has walked into work three miles each way – very quietly just getting on with the job in hand.
Chloe Saunders, PALS Officer, JR who took four hours to get to work from Thame, but never gave up and made it in. Philip Sutton, Head of Patient Services, who has been here day and night through ice and snow. He has been supporting staff in all areas.
Diana Beere, Catering Manager at the Horton General Hospital would like to thank all the catering staff who walked, tripped and fell over on their way to work, but who all got there!
Sister Alexina Fantato wanted to say thank you to all our dedicated staff in The Oxford Eye Hospital who kept the service going and worked hard to communicate with patients. Alexina would like to give a special mention to Staff Nurse Anna Rudenko, Staff Nurse Janette Savage and HCA Caroline Justice.
Mike Fleming, Director of the Horton General Hospital, tells us he has a long list of people who have walked through the snow, stayed overnight and worked extra shifts – and he sends thanks to them all.
Sarah Curtis, Ward Sister of the Oncology Ward, stayed for two nights and worked several long days to keep her ward covered.
Mervyn Phipps, Assistant Director of Estates, told us about Jim T who arrived at work (very early) when the snow started to fall, with snow chains on his bike!
Helen Cooper, a nurse on Kamran's Ward in the Children's Hospital, slept on site for five nights to make sure she was available to work. When she finally managed to get home to High Wycombe, it took her three hours to drive back the next day.
Di May, Outpatient Sister at the Horton says all her staff have been 'Snow Heroes' – not forgetting the cleaner who has been kept very busy mopping wet floors all week.
Nelson Gisbourne, Senior Porter Supervisor, sends thanks to all the facilities porters for turning up for work, despite the adverse weather which made the journey very difficult for some.
Several people have mentioned the reception staff, on all sites, who have been signposting people, problem-solving, and generally presenting a friendly face to staff, patients and visitors.
We have also been reminded of the many people who, unable to get to work in their usual department, helped out in other areas. Some staff joined community nursing teams and so thank you to all those staff who improvised to make things better for others.
Lynn McCarron-Gibb, a staff nurse on the Oncology Day Treatment Unit, successfully resuscitated a lady who had collapsed on Osler Road on the first snowy day. We have been sent an email expressing thanks from a relative.
Horton General Hospital, Emergency Department – Sister, Sally Walker walked six miles on the first day of snow to get to the Horton's Emergency Department for an early shift. It took her over two hours.
Sister Alexina Fantato - may I say thank you to all our dedicated staff in the Oxford Eye Hospital who kept the service going and worked hard to communicate with patients. I would like to mention especially, Staff Nurses Anna Rudenko, Janette Savage and Dolores Cruz, and HCA Caroline Justice.
The League of Friends – the volunteers of the League of Friends have been nominated for as snow heroes. The majority of them are elderly (and all volunteers) and they kept the teas and sandwiches flowing at the Oxford hospitals and the shop open at the Horton General throughout the snow.
RAF Benson offered to use a 4x4 to help midwives get to Wallingford Community Hospital, or help them get to labouring mothers who could not travel. Gill Walton, Director of Midwifery, says we haven't needed to take up the offer yet but she is keeping it in the back pocket... just in case. Many thanks RAF Benson.
Prepared by the Media and Communications Unit
Email: media.office@orh.nhs.uk|
Tel: 01865 231471