British Red Cross staff shortlisted for prestigious award for their work helping A&E patients across Wales

The British Red Cross has been shortlisted for a prestigious award recognising the reassurance and help it has offered to more than 100,000 people in emergency departments across Wales.

The Red Cross Emergency Department Enhancement & Assisted Discharge Scheme has been shortlisted for the “Best Not for Profit Working in Partnership with the NHS” award at the Health Service Journal Partnership Awards 2020, recognising their outstanding dedication to improving healthcare.

Since December 2018 the Red Cross has been funded by the Welsh Government and NHS Wales to work in partnership with hospitals across Wales to help patients and NHS staff in emergency departments during times of pressure.

The work started in seven hospitals – including the Wrexham Maelor – and is set to expand to eleven this month.

As part of their work Red Cross support workers help and reassure frail older people and vulnerable adults. They can help with tasks such as collecting prescriptions, provide emotional support – calming anxious patients and relatives and sitting with dementia patients and comforting bereaved families.

Support workers also transport people home and help them settle in, providing monitoring for the first 24 hours and referral to other local services if needed.

Patient feedback shows 97 per cent would recommend the Red Cross to others. It’s also been good news for busy and committed doctors and nurses, with 67 per cent of hospital staff saying having the Red Cross in EDs improved their own wellbeing too.

The judging panel comprised a diverse range of highly regarded figures across the NHS and wider healthcare sector. To be shortlisted as a finalist for these awards, despite tough competition from hundreds of brilliant applicants, is a mark of real achievement for the Red Cross.

The British Red Cross Emergency Department Enhancement & Assisted Discharge Scheme in Wales have been selected based on their diligence, ambition and the positive impact that the project has had on both practitioners and patients within the health care industry.

Stanislava Sofrenic, independent living operations manager at the British Red Cross, said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for “Best Not for Profit Working in Partnership with the NHS”, recognising the collaborative efforts and dedication of our teams over the last year to implement the scheme in Wales.

“We are committed to improving the experiences of patients and helping them to recover and be independent again.

“To be chosen among the other incredible nominees is a wonderful achievement. This nomination has been a tremendous boost both to our team and our NHS partner hospitals across Wales and I am sure it will bolster our continued efforts to improve.”

HSJ editor Alastair McLellan added: “We would like to congratulate the British Red Cross on being nominated in the category of Best Not for Profit Working in Partnership with the NHS ahead of HSJ Partnership Awards 2020.

“We are looking forward to welcoming them to the ceremony in February, to join us in recognising the very best collaborations and innovations in the healthcare sector.

“This year’s finalists are of an outstanding calibre and all of them are exceptionally dedicated to enhancing healthcare across the UK.”

The winners will be selected following a rigorous, “live panel” judging stage ahead of the HSJ Partnership Awards 2020 awards ceremony. Held at the Park Plaza Westminster on the 27th February, the evening will provide a great opportunity for influential figures to unite and celebrate the achievements of their industry peers.

The awards evening is expected to be attended by leaders and professionals from both the NHS and private sector as well as figures from non-clinical backgrounds to celebrate innovation and collaboration in healthcare.