MPs and NHS leaders in the South West have joined forces to honour health and care staff in the regional round of the NHS Parliamentary Awards.
Sam Walklett, Health and Wellbeing Project Manager at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has won the regional south west Parliamentary Award in the Wellbeing at Work category.
The local judging panel had over 70 nominations and a difficult decision in choosing their winners, so this award is a real testament to Sam’s hard work and positive attitude.
Sam will also be shortlisted for the national awards set to take place next year.
During COVID-19, Sam has supported the Trust’s staff health and wellbeing programme, alongside a number of colleagues, by delivering 2,040 snack bags to services across the organisation and Swindon.
She has also delivered thousands of drinks, sweet treats and healthy ready meals to staff working in every ward and department of the acute hospital, to ensure staff have been kept hydrated and have chance for a break and some food.
She has also personally delivered care packages to every member of staff who was shielding or working from home, to support their health and wellbeing and ensure they felt included despite not working on site.
Sam set up wobble rooms across the Trust, giving staff a quiet space to reflect, share thoughts and take a break during the pandemic. There were six wobble rooms in total, and Sam regularly updated them with new literature, posters and drinks and snacks for staff.
Prior to COVID-19, Sam still recognised the importance of staff health and wellbeing and was instrumental in the redesign and implementation of our brand new programme.
Last year, Sam launched the Trust’s first ever ‘Happiness Event’ which saw over 1,000 members of staff join their colleagues and take a break to enjoy an afternoon of sweet treats, masseuses, yoga instructors, beauty therapists and a local healthy drinks company. In addition, Sam made up over 300 gift bags for staff to take back to their colleagues who couldn’t attend the event.
Due to the first event’s success, Sam put on a further two events – one for acute hospital staff and another for staff working in the community. The three events have benefited over 1,800 staff.
Kevin McNamara, Chief Executive, said: “We put Sam forward for this award as a thank you for the contribution she has made to our staff health and wellbeing programme, both before the pandemic and during.
“A huge thank you to Sam for her leadership on this. We are very proud of what you have done - showing us all what we can do when we support each other.”
Robert Buckland MP said: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam has made a huge difference to fellow local NHS staff, leading the staff health and wellbeing programme. She has worked tirelessly, going above and beyond to make sure that all those working within the field have received exceptional support at this difficult time.”
