Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 25th April 2024 Issue no. 1111
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Hospice housekeeping manager nominated for national award
A hospice housekeeping manager is in the running for a prestigious national award.Paula di Palma, who stepped up to lead the St Raphael's housekeeping team when Covid-19 struck, is a finalist in the 2024 'Our Health Heroes' Awards, delivered by Skills for Health.
Colleagues at St Raphael's in Cheam, South London, nominated Paula for going the extra mile for patients and volunteers and always making them feel special. "She knows every patient, family member, volunteer and colleague on first name terms," says Nick Stevens, CEO of St Raphael's. "She treats everyone the same, always with a smile and genuine interest in who they are."
Ginny Toubal, volunteer services lead, adds: "Paula is an incredible person. She creates special occasions for our patients and those important to them to meet their specific needs often at short notice. I feel privileged to be her colleague."
Paula recently arranged a pizza party for a young patient whose family lived all around the world, as well as a last date night for an elderly couple the hospice was caring for. Every year, Paula comes into the Hospice on Christmas Day to cook and give presents to patients and goes out of her way to celebrate special occasions such as patients' birthdays.
Róisín Yin-Poole, wellbeing services lead comments:
"She makes us all feel special in her own little way. I remember walking into my office on a cold and dark December morning last year to find a small fibre optic Christmas tree placed on my desk. It made me smile and feel so much warmth and straight away I knew it was Paula. These are really small acts of kindness, but they make a huge difference and help to make the Hospice feel like a special place to be. Working in a hospice can have its tough days, but Paula is 'a ray of sunshine' for everyone here."
Skills for Health has been championing the voices of the UK healthcare workforce since 2002. As the Sector Skills Council for Health, it has collaborated with thousands of NHS and healthcare providers to develop solutions that improve skills, jobs and roles to achieve better patient outcomes.
"Our Health Heroes was created to champion real people, who are at the heart of our healthcare system," it says. "Now more than ever we need to celebrate and say 'thank you' to the thousands of unsung heroes up and down the country.
"We can't wait to welcome some of the incredible shining stars of the health and care sectors to a glittering awards ceremony at the QEII Centre in London as we reveal the winners of the Our Health Heroes Awards 2024. Gold, silver and bronze Operational Support Worker of the Year award winners will be announced at a special ceremony held in London on 16th April."
Now in their eighth year, the Awards are sponsored by NHS England, NHS Employers, NHS Shared Business Services, NHS Race & Health Observatory and more.
Votes can be cast here until 11 March 2024:
29th February 2024