Team highly commended at national awards

The team who successfully organised and delivered an extremely popular event, which saw Derriford Hospital opening its doors to the local community for the first time in more than a decade, was named as a runner up at the prestigious HSJ Value in Healthcare Awards 2014.
Shortlisted down to the final eight, the team were announced as being Highly Commended in the Value and Improvement in Communication category of the national awards with the judges praising the ‘bold, passionate and effective’ work of the Open Day team.
Amanda Nash, Head of Communications for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and organiser of the Open Day, said: “We were absolutely delighted with the number of people who came along to the open day and with the feedback we received following the event. Being named as Highly Commended at the national HSJ awards is the cherry on the cake for us. It is such fantastic recognition for all the hundreds of staff and volunteers who made our open day possible. Without them giving their time, most of it given for free, and opening up so many great areas for our visitors to visit, the day just wouldn’t have been the great success it was.”
Thousands of people came along to the Open Day in September 2013, to find out for themselves what goes on behind our doors and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The doors opened at 10am, although visitors were already gathering before. Children brought their teddy bears along for treatment at the Teddy Bear’s Hospital, there was a life-size game of operation available and many who attended were interested in finding out more about careers in the NHS.
Visitors to the event were also able to take part in fun research trials using chocolate, to take blood with our model arm and to tour many areas of the hospital, including main theatres, children’s theatre, fracture clinic and maternity.
A visitor to the event said: “A fantastic day that’s been organised; really giving something back to the community.”
Our Learning and Development Team were shortlisted down to the final nine in the Value and Improvement in Training and Development category of the awards.
The new HSJ Value in Healthcare Awards seek to recognise and reward outstanding efficiency and improvement by the NHS. A successor to the HSJ Efficiency Awards, the Value in Healthcare Awards continue to recognise excellent use of resources. But they also seek out examples of demonstrable improvement in outcomes, both within back office functions and clinical initiatives. The award ceremony was held on Tuesday 23 September at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.
- See more at: http://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ourorganisation/newsandpublications/...