Sunderland healthcare assistant is a shining example
A healthcare assistant at Sunderland Eye Infirmary is the winner of a Cavell Star Award for showing exceptional care for her patients.
Charlotte Rooney was nominated by staff on the Glaucoma and Mayling Diagnostic Units, where she has worked since January 2018. She began as an apprentice and recently became a fully qualified healthcare assistant
Staff Nurse Dawn Boldon said: “She blended in with our team from the very start. She always has a smile on her face and gives 100% and she is constantly taking on board new information. She has a fantastic rapport with the patients, who love her. Whether it’s doing initial assessments, eye pressure and peripheral vision checks, or preparing patients for laser procedures, she explains to them exactly what is going to happen.”
Charlotte, 21, who lives in Sunderland, said: “I was shaking when I found out I’d been given this award. Everyone has been congratulating me and I’ve been buzzing ever since. I have always wanted to care for people and in the past year I have discovered that nursing is definitely the job I want to do. I love working at the Eye Infirmary and I’m really interested in becoming a nurse here.”
Nursing charity Cavell Nurses’ Trust launched the Cavell Star Awards in 2018 in partnership with LloydsPharmacy Clinical Homecare. Nursing teams throughout the UK are encouraged to nominate that special teammate who has shown exceptional care for either their colleagues or their patients and patients’ families. Each Cavell Star Award winner receives a medal, presentation case and pin badge as well as invites to attend special Care & Cake parties celebrating the nation’s nursing professionals.
The Cavell Star Awards are in partnership with LloydsPharmacy Clinical Homecare and are sponsored by NEXT, NHS Improvement, National Garden Scheme, Health Education England, NHS Professionals, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, Alexandra, British Journal of Nursing, The Embassy of Belgium in the UK and Thornbury Nursing Services & Scottish Nursing Guild.
Healthcare professionals wishing to nominate a nurse, midwife or healthcare assistant for a Cavell Star Award can find out more at https://www.cavellstarawards.org
