Top National Award for Royal Bolton Bereavement Team
The Royal Bolton Hospital’s Bereavement and Donor Team has scooped up a prestigious national award from the Nursing Times.
The team was declared winners in the category of 'Innovation in your Speciality' category for their pioneering work in supporting bereaved families and increasing organ and tissue donor rates.
The service was created in 2004 and has evolved into a personal service which provides essential care support and advice for families who have experienced the loss of a loved one.
Bereavement and Donor co-ordinator Fiona Murphy said: "We have worked very hard to improve the support we give to families during one of the most difficult things they will ever experience. We do all we can to encourage organ donation, but whatever their decision, our level of support remains the same.
"It was an absolute honour to win the award from the Nursing Times, it is particularly pleasing because it’s a real vote of confidence from our nursing colleagues. It’s a huge credit to the team and all our colleagues at the Trust."
Judges praised the team for their innovative combination of bereavement and donation services that has resulted in a massive impact on the quality of end of life care, donation rates, staff confidence and competence in this sensitive area.
The team has consistently been at the forefront of bereavement and donor work and many of the things pioneered in Bolton have been taken up nationally and internationally. Working with staff and members of the public they have raised awareness about organ and tissue donation, giving support to families at what is often a very difficult time.
Royal Bolton Hospital chief executive David Fillingham said: "I am absolutely delighted the Bereavement and Donor Team has received this recognition for their excellent work. Thanks to their dedication, our hospital has a bereavement service to be really proud of, providing essential help and support to families during the worst possible times. Our organ and tissue donation rates are among the best in the country which is a reflection of the hard work of the team."
Meanwhile, the Bereavement and Donor Team is also hoping for success at the Health Service Journal Awards later this month. They have been nominated in the Primary Care Innovations category. The HSJ awards are widely known as the 'Oscars' in healthcare. The hospital’s Orthopaedic Patient Experience Team has also been nominated in the Clinical Service Redesign category for their work in making improvements by using patient video diaries. The results will be announced on November 30th.