YOUTH CARE #OurHealthHeroes
A campaign celebrating healthcare support workers in paediatric care has been launched as part of a national programme to showcase the support in the NHS. Skills for Health tell us more.
A new campaign has been launched to highlight children’s health heroes by marking the vital role played by those who work to support young patients in medical care.
Launched in partnership with leading children’s hospitals from across the UK, the week-long campaign from Skills for Health and National Skills Academy for Health showcased the significant contribution that non- clinical workers make to a child’s care, as well as encouraging the public to thank them for their dedication.
Hospitals involved include Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Bristol.
The movement is part of Skills for Health’s 2016 campaign, #OurHealthHeroes, to honour support workers across the UK who make up 40% of the healthcare workforce.
#OurHealthHeroes celebrates the 798,600 people across the UK health sector who work as healthcare assistants, assistant practitioners, porters, cleaners, caterers, maintenance staff and administrative staff, by asking trust’s, organisations and individuals who have benefitted from their support to share their stories and thanks.
Nursing assistants like Graham Tarling at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children are among those receiving recognition. Stationed in a short-stay surgical ward dealing with specialities including orthopaedics, general surgery, plastic surgery and scans, nursing assistant Graham works with all ages of children, from toddlers to teens.
Speaking about the campaign and his role Graham Tarling commented:
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“When the children and their families arrive onto the ward I greet them with a smile and help to put them at ease. I always talk to them regarding any fears they may have and make them as comfortable as possible.”
Although Graham has a staff role, volunteers such as Charlene James at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital are also being celebrated. Charlene, who has worked at the hospital for two years, spends her time supporting families with autism.
She explains: “I’ve always worked with adults in the past but I wanted to give something back to the younger generation. It’s the hardest thing in the world to have an unwell child, so it makes us proud to be able to help in any way we can.”
“The movement is part of Skills for Health’s 2016 campaign,
#OurHealthHeroes, to honour support workers across the
UK who make up 40% of the healthcare workforce.”
At Sheffield Children’s Hospital, the Play specialists include Donna Webster- Payne, Katie Farrell and Kelly Taylor. Their hugely important role involves making children’s time in hospital as comfortable and as fun as possible.
Donna explains: “It is about taking children’s attention away from the procedure they are having and moving the focus to play. It makes it easier for them to cope with things. One-to-one individual time is so important for that.
“You don’t know what the day will bring so it is always a nice surprise,” Katie adds. “You’ve got to get stuck in, get involved!”
The Health Heroes Paediatrics week honoured those like Graham, Charlene and the Play specialists who go above and beyond within paediatric departments and children’s hospitals.
Melissa Swindell, Interim Director of Human Resources at Alder Hey says: “Everyone plays their part in making Alder Hey such a special place and the importance of our non-clinical staff cannot be under-estimated. They have a huge role in what we do and it is really important that we recognise how they make a significant difference to our patients and families.”
Ian Wheeler, Head of Research at Skills for Health says: “Non-clinical worker roles are critical, ensuring that hospital and healthcare practices around the UK are running efficiently and effectively. Our research has shown it is only by understanding the contribution and value of the support worker role that the health sector will be able to realise its potential in terms of productivity and efficiency.”
Access the full research reports via the Skills for Health Website:
www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/ ourhealthheroes/research
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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