This document discusses the WOW Awards at Medway NHS Foundation Trust which recognize employees nominated by patients for providing excellent care. The awards aim to improve staff morale, encourage consistency in patient experience, and inspire others. Since launching in 2011, over 800 nominations have been received, with many winners across different roles. The awards have helped give patients a voice and highlight the positive impact staff have on others. Winning an award is a morale boost for staff and means a lot to their teams. The WOW Awards are making a difference for both patients and staff at the Trust.

1. “Engaging our People and
delighting our Patients”
Derek Williams – Founder of The WOW!
Awards
Rita Lawrence – Medway NHS
Foundation Trust

2. About Medway NHS Foundation Trust
• Acute NHS Foundation Trust, in Kent
• Serving Medway & Swale – 370,000 patients
• Income £215m, 720 beds
• 3000 staff, 700 volunteers,26 Governors
• Complex health needs
• Patient experience and safety are important
parts of our strategy
• Engagement – LIA pioneers

3. Why these awards are important to us?
• To acknowledge the work that people do
• Happy people = happy patients
• Create a Team Medway feel to our Organisation
• Recognise, encourage and endorse our people to
give the very best service they can
• Creating a positive connection with our patients
• Inspire others to do the same

4. Some facts ……
• Launch in March 2011
• 885 Nominations, 608 Winners
• Jan 2012 to date - 570 nominations
• Averaging 50 per month, record month 110
nominations (April 2012) plus August - 97 and Oct
- 90
• Who’s nominated:
– Consultants, Nurses, Porters, Physiotherapists,
Gardeners, Housekeepers, Clinical Support Workers,
teams and individuals

5. What do The Wow! Awards help us achieve
• Our patients have a voice and an easy, open way
to comment on the care they have received
• Opportunity to highlight individuals and teams
• See the good and be proud of what people
achieve every day
• Improve morale and encourage consistency
• Inspire others
• Reminds our people of the impact they have on
others

6. Some of our Amazing Winners

7. A recent nomination….
• From the moment I arrived at A&E scared,
stressed and vulnerable these two absolute
angels went above and beyond to make me feel
as comfortable as is possible when you have a
health scare. They were very kind and gentle and
so very patient and understanding. They listened
to everything we said so we felt human for the
1st time in a long time. This paragraph barely
expresses what a difference they made to my life
and future. I would never have sought the
treatment I urgently needed without them. My
grateful, eternal thanks to their excellence ”

8. One of our Ward Managers
• “The WOW awards are different to any previous
awards available to Medway Staff. They are from
the patient and this makes it extra special. We
working in nursing as we love to care for those
less fortunate and when our excellent practice is
noticed and nominated for an award by the very
people we care for, it doesn’t get any better. We
have our awards in pride of place at the entrance
to our ward as we are proud of our team and
team members who have won individual awards
”

9. What winning means…..
• “ It has been a huge morale booster for the
Imaging Reception staff to be nominated for
this award. Sometimes it is difficult being on
the front line, but to receive this WOW means
that the staff feel they are appreciated by our
patients ....I am very pleased that they have
achieved this, it means a lot to all of the
team.....”

10. A winner’s reaction
• “ Then as I realised that this recognition was
missing from my nursing career. This
realisation touched me deeply and I promised
myself I would get a 'WOW' nomination for
my team. I thought we deserved it and in
many ways I considered it to be what was
what was missing from my time in the NHS ”
• Carolyn Lory, Medway, Wow! What a team
2011

11. Plaster Theatre

12. Spotlight on one of our incredible teams
• Team of 5
• Most number of nominations to date and have
won over 30 WOWs and counting
• They really love their work and it shows
• Special, different and personalised care – union
jacks!
• PRIDE and a sense of the patient is at the centre
of everything they do….
• They will “fix you”…

13. Big or small ??
• Coming in on your day off to take a patient to a loved
ones funeral
• Stickers, glitter plaster casts, union jacks
• Making a special cup of coffee every morning
• Being informative and answering patient concerns
• Treating patients as individuals
• Personally delivering medical supplies to their patients
on their way home
• Always having a smile
• Working well as a team on the ward

14. Impact of WOW!
• Individuals/Departments/Organisation
• On our patients and our staff
• Every one who these awards touch is a winner
• Improved Patient survey results
• Our Cancer Service and care has recently put us as one
of the top 10 improved hospitals in the country
• Our patients continue to be at the centre of everything
we do
• Our CEO / Director of Nursing continues to be strong
and show visible commitment to these awards
• Everyone likes to know they are doing well