Nurse and midwife celebrations in Laois at Portlaoise hospital's HEART awards
Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise achievements celebrated
The 2024 Nursing and Midwifery HEART Award winners have just been announced at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise (MRHP).
HEART is an acronym which stands for Honesty, Empathy, Accountability, Respect and Teamwork.
Opening the 2024 awards ceremony, Eileen Whelan, Chief Director of Nursing & Midwifery for Acute Services in HSE Dublin and Midlands said the celebration marks the fourth year of the HEART awards.
“It is a ceremony that recognises at the highest level within the Hospital and the Region, the staff who have been nominated by their peers as individuals who have met and who have exceeded the standards for excellence in patient and service user care. The ceremony is a unique initiative, bespoke to Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, but mirrors similar award ceremonies for staff in high performing organisations internationally.
“The international evidence indicates that where it is recognised that staff in organisations who are supported and acknowledged for their work, result in happier staff with better health and wellbeing and most importantly better outcomes for patients and service users.
“The HEART Award ceremony celebrates the care, dedication, and unwavering commitment of all the Nurses, Midwives and Health Care Assistants that work in Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise,” said Ms Whelan.
The Director of Nursing at Portlaoise hospital, Olivia Lafferty, spoke at the awards ceremony.
“Compassion, care and commitment are the values that underpin the professional practice of nursing and midwifery. These are the values that form the basis for our HEART awards, recognising our nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants and their ability to provide safe and high quality person centred and woman centred care. I congratulate each nominee and winner of all categories today,” she said.
The 2024 Nursing and Midwifery HEART Award Winners at MRHP are as follows:
- Nurse of the Year- Paul Shepherd, Senior Staff Nurse
- Nurse Leader of the Year - Deirdre Gorman, CNM2 STI Clinic
- Midwife of the Year - Molly Molloy, Staff Midwife
- Midwife Leader of the Year - Melanie Adams, Assistant Director of Midwifery
- Preceptor of the Year - Emma Donovan, Staff Nurse
- Developing Practice Nurse of the Year - Margaret Rice, Assistant Director of Nursing
- Health Care Assistant of the Year - Doireann Doolan, Health Care Assistant
Pictured: All winners of the 2024 Nursing and Midwifery HEART Awards at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise with hospital management and judging panel.
Presenting the Midwife Leader of the Year award Director of Midwifery, Ita Kinsella said: “It is a privilege and an honour to stand here today to celebrate with the nurses, midwives and health care assistants of Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, who go above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis to deliver safe, high quality care.
“I can honestly state that the midwives at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise are tireless advocates for women and as a group are truly inspirational, positively engaged and highly motivated in their pursuit of best practice. They ensure that all women and babies receive the best care in line with their needs and personal wishes. They do so with integrity, genuine kindness, compassion, humility and a personal touch,” she said.
The General Manager of MRHP John Joyce congratulated all.
“The HEART awards provide us with a great opportunity to say thank you and highlights the respect and teamwork that exists across nursing and midwifery. Your dedication is clear and I would like to take this opportunity to offer my appreciation for all your hard work and continued valued service to the hospital,” he said.