King George Hospital nurses awarded for work during first wave of Covid-19

Staff on Gardenia ward meeting Ruth May during her virtual visit

Three nurses at King George Hospital in Goodmayes have received awards for their hard work during the coronavirus pandemic.

They each received silver Chief Nursing Officer awards for rising to the challenges they have faced this year.

Among the recipients was Kalvinder Jandu, senior sister on the hospital’s gynaecology ward, which was changed to a medical ward, meaning Kalvinder and her team were faced with different challenges to normal while caring for male and female patients.

She was nominated for the award by the Trust’s Director of Midwifery, Sue Lovell, who said: “Kal has supported staff who were not as familiar with the patient’s medical requirements while ensuring appropriately skilled staff were always available.

“She’s been an advocate for her staff, going over and above her role by continuing to provide support even when not on duty. She was also faced with making difficult decisions, which she never shied away from.”

Kalvinder receiving her award (credit: BHRUT)

Also receiving an award was James Avery, Director of Nursing and Chief Nursing Information Officer, who set up a multidisciplinary workforce hub that helped manage the workforce during the pandemic, particularly with high staff absence levels.

And Michele Elliot, Director of Nursing for Anaesthetics and Surgery, was recognised for overseeing critical care, including increasing beds in large numbers during the first wave of Covid-19.

The honours were given out by Ruth May, the Chief Nursing Officer for England, during a virtual visit on Friday, 13 November.

During her visit, Ruth also heard more about Barking, Havering, and Redbridge University Trust’s Covid-secure green zone, which allows planned operations to be performed safely, and found out about how staff wellbeing was being supported.

On Friday ?@CNOEngland? joined ?@BHRUT_NHS? for her first virtual visit ?@sineadskelton? started us off. 3 of the team were presented with CNO Silver badges ?@Kal_Jandu? ?@micheleelliot10? ?@James_Avery_? we are very proud, congratulations pic.twitter.com/7Zg0cx5JIm

— Kathryn Halford OBE, RN, RSCN (@HalfordKathryn) November 15, 2020

Kathryn Halford, Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive, said: “She was really interested in how we’re supporting our staff wellbeing during this time, as well as what changes we’ve made while dealing with the pandemic, and how these have affected our teams.

“The visit went really well and I was glad Ruth enjoyed it, particularly as it was the first time she’d held a full virtual visit to a hospital.”

For more on this story, and the latest on our other local and national news, listen to Time 107.5FM