The latest recipients of the Isabella Kimmett Compassionate Care Award have been announced, with four members of staff from NHS Ayrshire & Arran honoured.
The Isabella Kimmett Compassionate Care Award is awarded twice a year, and celebrates nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, GP and care home staff who have shown compassionate care qualities.
The award winners all demonstrated highly compassionate and person-centred care through their various and diverse roles working for the health board.
- Karen Toussaint-Boden, a Perioperative Care Coordinator who works in Active Clinical Surveillance at the Pre-Operative Assessment Unit at University Hospital Crosshouse. Karen supports patients who are awaiting surgery to ensure they are prepared and fit for their procedure.
- Ross MacDonald, a Mental Health Staff Nurse at Woodland View Hospital in Irvine. Ross has supported colleagues, fellow students and family members following the deaths of two Mental Health Nursing students, honouring their memory by arranging benches in their names to be sited in the grounds at Woodland View. The benches have been a focal point for family members, friends and colleagues.
- Arlene Gibbons and Lynsey Boyd, who are both Paediatric Senior Staff Nurses based at Rainbow House, Ayrshire Central Hospital in Irvine. They were both recognised for the high level of care, support and compassion for children and families who have a child who has life limiting illness or palliative and end of life care needs.
The winners were presented their awards by Jacqueline Thomson, daughter of the late Isabella Kimmett. NHS Ayrshire & Arran Nursing Director Jennifer Wilson was also present to congratulate each of the recipients. She said:
“Here at NHS Ayrshire & Arran we endeavour to embed the principles of compassion and person-centred care in all of our services; each of these staff members exemplifies these core characteristics and I applaud them for the valuable contribution they make to our organisation and the lives of local patients and their families. These Isabella Kimmett Compassionate Care Awards are well deserved and my congratulations and heartfelt thanks go to each of the worthy recipients.”
If you know someone who deserves to be awarded for the quality of their compassionate care, you can nominate them by emailing compassionatecareaward@aapct.scot.nhs.uk and asking for a nomination form. We are happy to take nominations from patients, family members and colleagues.
