Receiving high quality, nutritious food can make a huge difference to a patient’s hospital experience, as our September Star of the Month winner highlights.
Stephen Dorman, Catering Assistant at Princess Royal Hospital (PRH), was awarded for going above and beyond his duty to ensure a patient received their meal after the kitchen had closed.
The patient, who had spent the day on the Same Day Emergency Care unit, originally did not want anything ordered from the kitchen for supper, but later became hungry.
Stephen was nominated by Nelson Pires Sousa, Unit Manager, who said: “Stephen told me the kitchen was closing and not normally able to provide any hot meals. However, he would arrange for a frozen meal to be prepared if one of us was able to collect.
“I went to the kitchen to realise that it was indeed closed, and that Stephen was going above and beyond his duty at that time. We all know how important it is to leave on time after a long day, but Stephen was kind to still prepare this meal and even added a nice pudding.
“The patient was thrilled when I gave him his meal and the plate was completely cleaned at the end. The happy expression on this gentleman had no price and it was all down to the kindness of another hard-working colleague.”
Stephen received his award at a surprise presentation by Chris Ashcroft, Hospital Director for PRH, and was surrounded by the catering team, who congratulated his winning efforts.
“I had just got back from a ward round and was shutting down the kitchen when the phone rang,” Stephen said.
“Our job is to make sure patients have everything they need. I’m really pleased to have been nominated and recognised. I did what anyone else would have done to help support a patient’s experience and recovery.”
If you know a colleague, team or volunteer that has gone above and beyond why not nominate them for a Star of the Month award.