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Two amazing nurses and a midwife from Kettering General Hospital have received DAISY Awards for the outstanding, compassionate, and sensitive care they have given to patients.

The DAISY Awards are an international recognition programme that honours and celebrates the exceptional care that many nurses and midwives provide every day.

Since we launched the scheme at Kettering General Hospital in 2020 some 239 patients, family members and carers have nominated staff members for the award and 18 have received it.

Staff who received their awards on June 6-7 were Registered Nurse Toni Cox, from Harrowden C, Registered Nurse Charlene Field, from Clifford Ward, and Delivery Suite Midwife, Katie Conroy.

Toni was loving and supportive

Toni Cox was nominated by Sue Harris, from Corby, for the sensitive and caring support she gave to the Harris family during the end-of-life care of Sue’s husband Kev.

In her nomination she said: “Toni was an amazing loving and supportive nurse to not only Kev but to me, his wife, and our three grandchildren Ella, Kian, and Kyla. I used to phone the ward every morning and was always told by Toni how Kev was overnight. She never kept any news, good or bad, from me and always asked how me and our grandchildren were. Kev used to love having her look after him and for the love and dignity she showed to him. Toni you were our angel and the way you looked after Kev will never be forgotten. “

Charlene gave understanding and comfort

Charlene Field was nominated by an autistic lady for the way she supported her during her hospital stay. 

In her nomination the lady said: “Charlene was an amazing nurse for me. She gave me so much understanding and comfort. She understood and listened to my concerns regarding my autism and PTSD and made sure that I was cared for in a way that was less stressful for my disability and sensory needs. I suffer really badly with anxiety and panic attacks and because of Charlene I was made to feel safe and listened too. I've never had a positive experience before such as this. It's the only time I have been in hospital and felt safe and supported. Charlene really went above and beyond offering me comfort and support. Her compassion and care is clear towards all patients and she goes above and beyond for everyone she works with. Covid 19 has been tough on many nurses and I really feel like she deserves recognition for her work and care that she shows both staff and patients. “

Katie was just amazing through-out

Katie Conroy was nominated Jenni Manning from Burton Latimer for the way she supported her during pregnancy and a difficult birth.

In her nomination Jenni said: “I would like to thank my midwife Katie for when I was pregnant with number five, at the age 40, and I was worried from the first appointment. Katie always did her best to reassure myself and my partner. My labour was extremely quick and intense at home which is where I had a huge bleed.  Managed to get into delivery suite where Harper was born within 20 minutes of arriving. Katie came to see me two days after I had given birth to do the normal checks and after talking for a while she told me her middle name was Harper - so my daughter’s name was very fitting! After about a week I started to suffer post-natal depression and she was just amazing. She reassured me constantly, did the referral promptly, and I'm now getting the help I so badly needed. So Katie Conway I feel that you need some kind of thanks for just being amazing through-out.”

Winners get their awards and a big thank you from the hospital

The winners were all presented with a DAISY award certificate, award pin badge and “Healer’s Touch” sculpture.

Interim Director of Nursing and Quality, Fiona Barnes, said: “I am delighted to be able to announce three more winners of our DAISY Awards.

“Toni, Charlene and Katie all exemplify our core value of providing compassionate care and have demonstrated the highest standards of support for patients and their families.

“Once again I want to thank everyone who has taken the time and trouble to nominate our staff members for these awards. They enable families to thank individuals who have touched their lives, often at a time of great vulnerability. Please keep the nominations coming.”

And a thank you to Deputy Director of Nursing Di Postle for introducing the awards

Kettering General Hospital’s outgoing Deputy Director of Nursing, Di Postle, has also received a special DAISY Leadership Award for her work in establishing the scheme at the hospital.

Di, who has worked in the NHS for 42 years, introduced the award scheme to KGH because she thought it was a fantastic way to recognise the care that nurses and midwives deliver.

Di, who retired in April, said: “I launched the DAISY Awards at KGH in October 2020 and since then local people have shown how much they appreciate the care our nurses and midwives provide by taking the time to write some very touching nominations.

“I am extremely pleased to have been able to get the awards established at the hospital and to see just how much they have been appreciated both by the members of the public who nominate our staff and by the staff members themselves.

“There have been quite a few tears during our awards ceremonies – which are always a surprise to the winners - and it makes me very proud to see staff rewarded for the extraordinary care that they deliver to people, often at very difficult times in their lives.”

Interim Director of Nursing and Quality, Fiona Barnes, said: “Di has done an amazing job in setting up the DAISY Awards at KGH and it is very appropriate that she has won a DAISY Leadership Award herself.

“The awards are now seen as a real achievement for a member of staff and it is also a very special way for patients to say thank you. Please keep your nominations coming.”

To nominate a nurse or midwife go to the KGH website www.kgh.nhs.uk or follow the link https://www.kgh.nhs.uk/the-daisy-award or email your nomination to  kgh-tr.daisyaward@nhs.net