2022 | SJH Staff Recognition Awards 2022

19 December, 2022

St James’s Hospital marks the year-end with annual Staff Recognition Awards ceremony

To mark its fiftieth birthday, last year St James’s Hospital launched the St James’s Hospital Staff Recognition Awards, highlighting staff’s dedication to patient care and the high level of collaboration between colleagues to encourage excellence in the delivery of services. This year saw eight different teams and individuals, across both clinical and non-clinical areas, receive an award.

The Patients’ Choice Award invited patients and service users, both past and present, to nominate staff members who made a difference to their experience in the hospital. This category saw nominations come in from all corners of Ireland, highlighting the impact made by the hospital and its staff. This award was awarded to Melissa Meally, Resuscitation Officer, ICU Nurse, who went out of her way to provide life-saving care while she was off duty.

Team of the Year was awarded to the Informatics Directorate, recognising the team’s dedication to advancing digital processes in the hospital.

Both Bettina Korn, End-of-Life Care Coordinator, and Lorraine Butler, Catering Assistant, were individually awarded the Service Excellence award. The selection committee noted that both consistently strive for excellence in the delivery of their service and inspire their colleagues to maintain the highest standard when caring for patients and service users.

Norma O’ Riordan, Assistant Director of Nursing (ADoN), HOPe Directorate, was awarded the Outstanding Contribution award. Recognising Norma’s influence and significant contribution to making a visible difference to the hospital’s delivery of cancer care.

The Urology Department was awarded the CEO Award and Deborah Cross, Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM), SACC, was awarded the CEO Outstanding Contribution award. Both recipients were recognised by Interim CEO, Noel Gorman, for providing an outstanding contribution by leading and developing projects and services.

Finally, this year saw the introduction of a new award, the Special Contribution Award, which acknowledges a special contribution which has positively impacted the patients’ experience in the hospital. This award was presented to Peter Hartnett, Patient Representative, for his dedication to ensuring the patient’s voice is present and considered in healthcare projects and developments. For over 23 years, Peter has been of a member of the hospital’s Patient Representative Group, and has offered an alternative perspective on a variety of patient-centered projects.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Interim Chief Executive Officer of St James’s Hospital, Noel Gorman, said, “The nominations received this year, highlight the great work happening the length and breadth of the hospital every single day. But what stands out the most is the incredible stories behind the individuals and teams nominated and how the service and care that they provide goes beyond the call of duty”.

Joe Bowden, from the hospital’s Patient Representative Group said, “I am delighted to be here today, representing the hospital’s Patient Representative Group (PRG), who volunteer to offer a patient’s perspective on hospital related issue. On behalf of the PRG, I would like to say, healthcare workers, both clinical and non-clinical, play an integral role in our society. Highlighting and celebrating their ambition, empathy and dedication is so important, along with sharing their amazing work with those outside of the hospital environment”.

The award ceremony took place Thursday, 15 December on the St James’s Hospital campus. The hospital would like to thank all those who made a nomination to this year’s awards and congratulate all those awarded and nominated.

Catherine Mullarkey with Informatics
Catherine Mullarkey, Chair of St James's Hospital Board, with members of the Informatics Directorate