Clinical Assessment Unit wins dignity award

Rochdale Infirmary’s clinical assessment unit scooped the annual Age UK Metro Rochdale Dignity in Care Award for the hospitals and doctors’ surgeries category

Rochdale Infirmary’s clinical assessment unit (CAU) has scooped the annual Age UK Metro Rochdale Dignity in Care Award for the hospitals and doctors’ surgeries category.

Nominated by Collette Parker, clinical matron for medicine at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, she said: “The CAU staff are a dynamic, flexible team who always strive to deliver high quality patient focussed care. They are positive, professional and committed to providing high quality care with dignity at all times.”

The award’s evening, now in its fourth year, had four categories where prizes were up for grabs. These included residential homes and sheltered accommodation, care at home, mental health and hospitals and doctors’ surgeries.

Over 140 guests joined in the evening of recognition and celebration at Rochdale Town Hall, where over 30 of the borough’s carers were honoured for the dignity in care which they show local older people.

Guests were treated to a performance by ‘Voice’, a community vocal group based in Heywood, and guest of honour Dr Chris Steele from ITV’s ‘This Morning’ who presented the awards.

Sister Lou Harkness-Hudson, the nurse in charge of the CAU at Rochdale Infirmary, said: “Winning the award shows to me that we make a difference. When you‘re ill you can be vulnerable and being in hospital can be very frightening. We want to take that fear away from our patients and treat them like we would our own family.

“It makes me very proud to have the team that I have and it makes me feel safe in the knowledge that the standard of care they provide is second to none. Speaking also as a team member, it is so rewarding to be recognised for the care we deliver knowing that what we do is acknowledged and for that to be rewarded.

“Since the CAU’s inception we have continually looked at ways to improve the service we deliver. We have seen over 9,000 patients since we opened and we strive to be the best we can be at all times for our patients.”

The short stay adult clinical assessment unit opened in April 2011 and provides a 12 bed unit for rapid assessment and treats patients who have been referred directly from their local GP, from the community, or come via the Urgent Care Centre. Patients are assessed, observed and treated on the unit usually for up to 48 hours.

Presenting the awards, Dr Chris Steele said: “Whether a person’s been nominated or they have won an award, they are all winners in my eyes, they have all done so much to improve the lives of others, often making huge sacrifices in their own lives.”