UHNM Chief Executive Award Winner: Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

Teams from Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke involved in the end-of-life care of an eight-year-old patient have been recognised for their compassion, sensitivity, and expert care. 

Staff from the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) have been awarded UHNM’s Chief Executive Award by Dr Simon Constable, UHNM Chief Executive.  

The award follows feedback from medical advocacy RefuahCare, who cited the “exemplary” compassion, sensitivity and expert care demonstrated by colleagues on PICU, and how diligently the team had taken the family’s Jewish faith into consideration when navigating difficult decisions.

Mark Bamberger from RefuahCare said: “The compassion, sensitivity, and expert care demonstrated by your clinicians in this complex and challenging situation have been exemplary. I am particularly struck by how diligently the team has taken the family’s Jewish faith into consideration when navigating difficult decisions. Having supported patients and their families for over 15 years, I can confidently say that this level of attentiveness and cultural understanding is not always common, and it reflects a standard of care that is truly commendable. 

“Their collaborative approach, working closely with the family, their rabbis, as well as our team, provided a measure of comfort and dignity during an incredibly difficult time. This compassion has made an immeasurable difference, not only in easing this painful journey but also, I believe, in shaping the family’s bereavement process to be more bearable.” 

Speaking at the award presentation, Dr Constable said: “This was a tragic case for many reasons, but one that the team collectively managed with the upmost professionalism, sensitivity and compassion during some of the most difficult situations any parent has to go through. I recognise there are some particular challenges in these sets of circumstances that might have bought conflict between a patient’s loved ones and clinicians, but the team couldn’t not have done it any better.”

Part of the West Midlands Paediatric Critical Care Network, the eight-bedded PICU cares for between 250 and 300 patients a year both locally and from afar as Birmingham and Manchester.  

Dr Ramesh Pavanasam, Consultant Paediatrician, said: “This was not possible without the help of so many colleagues including nurses, family support workers, play specialists, doctors, dieticians, physios, and non-clinical staff such as housekeepers. Everybody plays an important part in the care we provide.” 

Lena Russell, Ward Manager, added: “I’m exceptionally proud of the team and would like to say a massive thank you to them. Everybody worked so hard together to try and give the best care to the patient and family during an incredibly sad and difficult time. This is the job we do every single day, but its nice to be recognised for what we do.”