Research nurses and midwives celebrated for ‘going the extra mile’ at Central Manchester Hospitals

Clinical research nurses and midwives play a vital role in delivering research across our hospitals as part of the Research and Innovation (R&I) Division.

On top of providing first class clinical care, their role also includes managing studies, developing study procedures and practice, gaining consent and approvals and recruiting patients.

Launched in 2013, the Going the Extra Mile awards celebrate the achievement of nurses and midwives across CMFT. It allows patients, carers and staff to identify individuals who they believe demonstrate the Trust’s core values (respect, dignity, compassion, consideration, empathy and pride) through going the extra mile in the things they do for others.

In total 17 research nurses and midwives were nominated across the (R&I) Division, with the Divisional Management Team given the hard task of choosing a handful of winners. The panel chose four winners who they thought best represented an individual value, with each winner awarded a certificate and GEM pin badge by Janette Dunkerley, Acting Lead Nurse, and Kathy Evans, Divisional Director.

Janette Dunkerley, Acting Lead Nurse, said: “The GEM awards give us as a Division the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our clinical research nurses and midwives. All the winners are excellent role models and it was a privilege to be able to present them with their GEM award.”

The four divisional winners:

Pride award

Maggie Amegadzie, Senior Paediatric Research Nurse, Children’s Clinical Research Facility

Maggie goes above and beyond her role as paediatric research nurse, consistently working selflessly to ensure patients and their families have a positive research experience.

Maggie takes time to pay attention to detail to ensure that the patients, sponsors and PI all feel valued and satisfied with the service they receive. Maggie has a passion for research and the driving force in that is helping the patients and families now and those in the future.

Respect award

Sharon Thind, Paediatric Research Nurse, Paediatric Haematology

Sharon goes out of her way to help others, always available to offer help and advice. She Also acts as a Research Nurse Ambassador, internationally presenting a study to her nursing peers on behalf of the sponsor.

Sharon respects patients, parents, clinicians, colleagues and sponsors, and most importantly herself with her investment of effort and time to continually drive improvements in care of this group of patients. She gives 110% to every study and patient and is an excellent example of how a research nurse should be.

Consideration award

Catherine Chmiel, Research Midwife Coordinator, Saint Mary’s Hospital

Catherine has been proactive in offering support and assistance in the management and leadership of research nursing and midwifery across the Division.

Catherine shows consideration to colleagues across the R&I Division by putting herself forward to take on some of the workload of senior nurse managers. This also shows consideration to research patients, by enabling a continuous service which may have otherwise become disrupted.

Compassion award

Rachael Wilding, Research Nurse, Adult Oncology Haematology

Rachael plays an active role in promoting research across CMFT and has worked with staff, patients and other colleagues to help share research stories to a wider audience.

Rachael has also supported other communications campaigns in the R&I Division to raise awareness, including regular social media interactions such as tweets and videos, and taking part in internal events to commemorate occasions such as International Clinical Trials Day. She does so with a permanent smile on her face, welcoming patients and clinical colleagues to share her passion for her research role.