Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of two members of its maternity support team who have been honoured with the Chief Nursing Officer Award in recognition of their exceptional contribution to maternity care.
The national award recognises individuals and teams who go above and beyond to provide safe, compassionate, and personalised care to women, babies, and families
Jane Puntin, Maternity Support Worker and Sheila Hayes, Diabetes Healthcare Assistant received the awards. Their roles have been recognised for their dedication, and unwavering commitment to providing high quality care to our patients and their families.
Jane Puntin’s nomination from Angela Cormack, Community Midwife Team Lead:
I nominate Jane Puntin who is a Maternity Support Worker (MSW), Jane is invaluable to our community midwifery team.
The feedback I have received from women and families commonly reflects how much Jane has helped with understanding around infant feeding. One particular case study Jane helped a lady who was struggling with mental health issues and a traumatic birth, Jane attended offering support every day with either face to face or a reassuring phone call, this particular lady said that had she had a built up a trusting relationship with Jane which helped her carry on and successfully feed her baby the way that she wanted to. This is just one demonstration of Jane’s professional caring, kind compassionate approach to care.
Colleagues report back that they are at ease knowing Jane is providing joined up care with them. Jane set up and runs the ‘New Beginnings’ and Infant Feeding classes. Feedback from these shows that Jane comes across as being passionate and positive about what she does. Families feel reassured knowing that Jane will be on hand to support them after they have given birth. These classes have continued at a time when resources have been a struggle. Jane has been adaptable and accommodating to ensure that they still happen to benefit woman and families as they prepare for labour, birth and beyond.
Overall, Jane is an excellent MSW who touches the hearts of many when they at their most vulnerable, Jane reassures, helps build confidence, is patient and kind, Jane is a very valued member of the team, we would be lost without her
Sheila Hayes’ nomination from Sophie Condon, Diabetes Specialist Midwife:
I attended the gestational diabetes clinic with a number of other mothers, and I cannot praise Sheila enough for her level of care and attention to each and every one of us. What a wonderful lady she is and a true asset to the hospital
This is an example of one of the many pieces of positive patient feedback Sheila has received over the last 3 years. After over 20 years working as an HCA in theatres, Sheila took on a brand new challenge in January 2022 as an integral part of setting up a new gestational diabetes screening service in the women’s health clinic.
Alongside her teammates, Sheila now coordinates the glucose tolerance test clinic, which sees up to 10 women each day. A lengthy and sometimes daunting appointment that Sheila manages to turn into the most enjoyable of mornings! The women adore her kindness, compassion and unparalleled ability to put a group instantly at ease.
Sheila lights up any day that she is working. Her work ethic and dedication to her role is unparalleled; at a moment’s notice she will change her shifts or pick up extra hours to ensure that our diabetes service continues to run smoothly. She also maintains the highest standards in ensuring a clean and safe working environment – she leaves the sluice gleaming at the end of every day, making sure no laundry bag or sharps box goes uncollected! Sheila is held in the highest esteem by her colleagues and not one of her days off goes by without someone saying, ‘I don’t like it when Sheila isn’t here!’.
We are blessed to have her as part of our team and it will be an extremely sad day when she decides to retire (fortunately she assures us this won’t be for a while and, indeed, she has more energy than people half her age including myself!). Thank you, Sheila, you are truly a rare breed and the cornerstone of our diabetes service!
Speaking about the recognition, Karen Parker, Head of Midwifery at Gateshead Health, said:
“This is well deserved recognition for Jane and Sheila who consistently put patients and their families at the heart of everything they do. We’re incredibly proud.
Congratulations and thank you for continuing to make a real difference.”
The awards were presented by Dr Gerry Morrow, Non Executive Director, supported by Victoria Bagshaw, Deputy Director of Nursing, Midwifery and AHP Workforce Education and Training on Wednesday 13 August for their outstanding dedication to the maternity department.
The recognition comes as part of ongoing efforts to celebrate the vital roles that maternity support workers and nurses play in improving maternal health outcomes and ensuring every family receives high quality care.
Congratulates to Jane and Sheila and thank you for your incredible service to the community.
