Nick Shaughnessy wins NT's Chief Nursing Officer Award
Released 13/11/2008
13 November 2008
Last night Dame Christine Beasley, Chief Nursing Officer,
announced Nick Shaughnessy, Lead Nurse, Arbury Court (from the
Partnerships in Care group of hospitals) as winner of the Nursing
Time’s Chief Nursing Officer’s Award.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown presented Nick with the award and
praised nurses for making “a difference.” The Chief Nursing
Officer’s Award is the most prestigious Nursing Times Award, and
Nick won against stiff competition amongst four excellent
shortlisted entries.
This year is the 60th Anniversary of the NHS. Over recent years
we have seen a growth in the independent sector and strengthening
partnerships between this sector and the public sector. The
development of Partnerships in Care is thanks in part to this
evolving partnership. Arbury Court Hospital, Warrington, a recent
addition to the PiC portfolio, works closely with the NHS and shows
our growing strengths in women’s services.
In less than two years at Arbury Court – during a period of
significant investment and redevelopment from Partnerships in Care,
Nick has achieved a great deal.
On winning the award, Nick Shaughnessy said: “It is a great
honour to receive the Nursing Time’s Chief Nursing Officer’s Award.
I must thank my manager Ailie Wallace for nominating me and I feel
it acknowledges not only my work but that of the whole team at
Arbury Court. It is great working with a professional and
caring team; we share common values and have supported each other
during a period of great change. The development of a new service
at Arbury Court has presented challenges but will help to ensure we
provide the best possible care for our patients at the hospital.
This award shows that areas of excellence exist in the independent
sector and with the continuing support of the Senior Management
Team within Partnerships in Care we hope to build on this and
maintain and improve the services we offer patients.”
Dame Christine Beasley said:
“Nick won this award head and shoulders above, a well-deserved
winner”.
Mike Bennett, North West Regional Executive Director said:
“When PiC acquired the old Delph Park Hospital site it had the
reputation of a failing service with poor physical environment,
negative staff attitudes, poor clinical practice and patient
experience. What Nick achieved since PiC’s purchase and
redevelopment of the site, is a testament to his skills, experience
and enthusiasm. Visitors to the Arbury Court service have been
witness to a remarkable turnaround. By providing clear leadership,
role modelling, visibility and nurturing the existing staff to
realise what should and could be achieved, practice has taken a
huge leap forward. The patient experience and feedback has been
extremely complimentary.
“In less than two years Nick has changed lives, expectations and
peoples skills, both staff and patient a like. I have actually
found it difficult to put into words the difference this has meant
to the people we care for, it is something Nick and his team should
be rightly proud of and celebrate their hard work and success.”
Fred Sinclair-Brown, Group Chief Executive said:
“I would like to extend my congratulations to Nick and his team
on a well deserved award. Nick has proved himself to be a
very valuable member of the PiC nursing team and we are proud of
his achievements. It is a great honour that the Prime Minster,
Gordon Brown took time to present this award. This is the first
time an independent sector nurse has won this award, and it
provides evidence of the growing recognition of the independent
sector’.
Particular highlights of his work include:
- Increase of staff competence, confidence and understanding in
working with women who self harm through increased training.
Support and supervision for staff thus improving positive,
empowered working relationships between staff and patients and
shifting the balance of power and responsibility for their care and
treatment back to the inpidual patient.
- Reduction of need for enhanced observation and empowering women
to take control of their self harm. Some women had been on 3:1
observations for months, years - they are now not on any
observation and are working towards recovery, whereas previously
the model of care had fostered dependency and illness as opposed to
hope for the future and recovery.
- Increasing patients own awareness of their self harming
behaviours and finding alternative coping strategies.
- Increasing patient’s independence and quality of life with
freedom, autonomy and choice both within the ward and within the
community.
- ENDS -
For further information on Nick’s Award, please
contact:
Lorna Hamblin, PR & Communications Manager
Tel: +44 (0)20 8327 1818
Mobile: +44 (0)7834 496 136