International Nurses Day 2020

For the past week, colleagues have been sending in their shout-outs for nursing colleagues. Jackie said: "It is fantastic to see how you are looking out for each other on top of everything you are doing for service users."

Elizabeth Adegbenro would like to shout-out

"I would like to say a big thank you to Matron Mary Ibude (pictured above) for her on-going support, especially when I was off sick with Covid-19, which fell during the Easter holidays when I was home alone.  She ensured that meals were delivered to me and also called to ensure that I had actually eaten. I came back to work and was telling others - and I discovered that she had done this for couple of other staff known to be home alone.   Despite her work load, she makes it her job to go around the wards to make sure that staff received daily allocation of meals. Thank you Mary!"

Dr Gina Waters would like to shout-out the nursing staff on Dunkley ward

"I have been the consultant on Dunkley ward for some time and have worked with the most amazing nurses and support staff. Despite staffing changes over the years, the culture of teamwork and positivity has remained intact.

"It is a team which truly functions as one; everyone supports each other. They 'look after' each cohort of new junior doctors with patience and good humour. They are excellent clinicians and I trust their decisions and opinions. Sometimes the ward can be unsettled and chaotic because of how unwell some patients are, yet the staff retain their kindness and professionalism throughout.

"I have to thank them too for the endless cups of tea they have made for me over the years! I do try and tell them myself how fantastic they are, but please could you also give them some public thanks from me. It is a privilege to be part of the Dunkley team."

Dr Sally Porter would like to shout-out Archie Gwashavanhu, Maria Pinguli and Michelle Lally

"I would like to give a shout out to our fantastic nursing team, Archie Gwashavanhu, Maria Pinguli and Michelle Lally. They are a small team but perfectly formed! They have been working tirelessly during this health emergency to provide a high level of nursing care to our very vulnerable drug and alcohol users in Kingston, and have provided the rest of us in the team with support, help with using PPE and infection control measures and are generally being amazing colleagues. Thank you!"

Martin Mulligan would like to shout-out nurses working in Islington Better Lives service at our Seven Sisters Road and Grays Inn Road sites

"Working alongside our skilled recovery practitioners, our nurses respond brilliantly to the challenges posed in the day to day management of complex substance users. Compassionate, hard working and committed, they often go above and beyond not only in meeting the needs of our service group, but actively embark on joint working initiatives with a range of Trust and outside agency partners, helping difficult to reach and most vulnerable service users engage in our services.

"Some of our nurses are also blood borne virus and physical health champions, and having recognised the risks that pose particularly to this service user group, they also  have successfully targeted those in need by bringing interventions around COPD, TB, Hep. C treatment and other liver conditions in house for those who would not otherwise access this.

"In addition, most of our nurses are also trained Independent Prescribers (NMPs) who assess and prescribe medications for our services in substance use and carry out community detoxes in both primary and secondary care settings. I am very proud to be working alongside my fellow professional colleagues who tirelessly work in meeting these challenges all year round and especially in these challenging times."

Roger Evans would like to shout-out nursing staff from community services from all divisions who have recently volunteered to work on our inpatient wards

"Some of our community colleagues have been deployed across all wards and have provided essential additional support during these extremely challenging times. Many of the nurses haven't worked in inpatient areas for some time and have shown great commitment and flexibility to work as needed and often at short notice. Thank you!"

Mark Cornell would like to shout-out the Islington Learning Disability Community Nursing Team

"The team is always putting themselves first. Their empathy, dedication, compassion and drive makes them in my opinion the best community learning disability nursing team in London. I'm lucky to be in such a great team!"

Michael Dunning would like to shout-out Faye Landy, Place of Safety Team Manager

The Place of Safety team, alongside Sapphire ward, were the first designated services to care for Covid-19 patients. Led by Faye Landy, the Place of Safety team transformed the service over the course of one day to become a safe clinical environment for infectious patients. As part of the Trust Covid response, the Place of Safety also became the location for Covid+ve patients requiring PICU. The team very successfully managed acutely unwell psychiatric patients who were also Covid-19 positive and had a very high level of care needs. Faye’s leadership was both exemplary and brave."