A Healthcare Support Worker who has dedicated her career to enabling patients with kidney failure can live a ‘normal’ life, has won a national award.
Victoria (Vicki) Furniss, Healthcare Support Worker at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, was given the award during a surprise ceremony at the Northern General Hospital.
She has worked at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust within the haemodialysis care setting for the past 26 years.
Ms Furniss said: “I’m very honoured to have won the award, if not a bit overwhelmed by it all. To me I am just doing my job and not doing anything special.
Seeing the same patients up to six days a week means I get to know them, not just on a medical level but on a personal level too.
We can have a laugh and some banter with each other which not only makes the patient’s treatment seem to go quicker, but also makes my job feel so rewarding.”
There are around 27,000 Healthcare Support Workers in the North East and Yorkshire region, but only 34 of these awards have ever been given out.
Haemodialysis patients are sometimes required to have hospital treatment up to three times a week which can make it difficult for them to spend time away from home.
Ms Furniss’ work includes liaising with dialysis units across the country, and abroad, to make sure that patients can access the life-saving treatment whilst away from home, allowing them to enjoy holidays and special occasions.
Professor Chris Morley, Chief Nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Vicki is an exceptionally motivated member of the team who constantly exceeds all expectations.”
He added: “She is passionate about patient experience, and I am thrilled that she is being recognised in this way for the incredible work that she does.”
The award was a part of NHS England’s Chief Nursing Officer Healthcare Support Worker Awards which recognise exceptional contributions by nursing and midwifery staff.
It was presented by North East and Yorkshire (NEY) Nursing, Midwifery and AHP Workforce Lead, Victoria Bagshaw, NHSE NEY Health Care Support Worker Programme Lead, Rachel Kumar, and Professor Chris Morley, Chief Nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Ms Furniss has received a certificate signed by Dame Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England.
