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CUH healthcare support workers recognised in national awards

We were delighted to welcome Catherine Morgan, chief nurse for the East of England, to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) this week to honour two members of our nursing team with the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Award.

The CNO Award recognises the significant and outstanding contribution made by individual nurses and healthcare support workers and their exceptional contribution to nursing practice.

Mariola Mico Coloma, a healthcare support worker, from the Haemotology Day Unit and Tessa Upton, a healthcare support worker from the D2 Children’s Day Unit were presented with their CNO Award on Monday by Catherine Morgan and Lorraine Szeremeta, CUH chief nurse.

L-R: Catherine Morgan, Mariola Mico Coloma, staff nurse and Lorraine Szeremeta
Mariola receiving her award and flowers - pictured left to right are Catherine Morgan, Mariola, Jessica Williams, senior sister on the haematology day unit and Lorraine Szeremeta

Mariola and Tessa were joined by their colleagues to celebrate this fantastic achievement. To receive a CNO Award is a great honour and nominations have to meet exceptional criteria, and are reviewed and approved by senior management of NHS England.

We are very proud of the work our colleagues do here at CUH every day, and this recognition really does make a difference.

An extract from Mariola’s nomination said:

“Mariola is an incredibly caring person, who treats patients with such dignity and respect and will work alongside the Registered Nurses to ensure the best outcome for the individual.

Mariola is a naturally hardworking person who likes to be busy. No job is ever too big or too small and will always be carried out to the best of her ability and always with a smile. If Mariola isn’t busy caring for patients then she will be somewhere tidying, cleaning or organising an area. She never needs to be asked, she will always be one step ahead of the rest of us.”

Three people standing outside L-R: Catherine Morgan, Tess Upton holding flowers, Loraine Szeremeta
Tess (centre) receiving her flowers from Catherine Morgan (left) and Lorraine Szeremeta (right)

Mariola is an incredibly kind person whether dealing with the patients, friends and family or other members of staff. She knows how to make people feel comfortable and cared for and has a great sense of humour too.

Extract from Mariola's nomination

Tessa’s nomination read:

“Tessa is very knowledgeable and skilful in what she does. She knows how to keep patients, herself and the team safe within her scope of practice. Though what stands out to me is that Tessa is very compassionate. She is a dependable colleague, always willing to help and support everyone in the team. She constantly checks in to every member of team if they are okay. Tessa is very intentional with her conversations, she remains to be professional and uplifting.

Tessa upholds the values of being safe, kind and excellent in everything she does. She continued to work with the team during the pandemic, and would happily support in the red (COVID-19 positive) areas.

Extract from Tessa's nomination

The CNO Awards highlight the core NHS values of working together with respect and the commitment to quality of care and compassion. We are so proud that members of Team CUH are being recognised in this way. Mariola and Tessa’s achievements are just two examples of CUH's values of together, safe, kind and excellent happening all over our hospitals, every single day

A big congratulations to Mariola and Tessa for this great achievement.

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