Horton nurse wins first award in scheme to celebrate exceptional hospital staff

Louise Garrett had no idea she had been nominated for a DAISY Foundation Award when chief nurse Sam Foster and her colleagues surprised her with the award on her shift on Friday (October 12).

A stunned Louise, who works on Oak Ward (Trauma), said: “I was so surprised to be presented with the DAISY award. What an honour and to be the first for the trust and at the Horton makes it extra special.

“I’m proud to work with such a great team and to be recognised for the difference I make to people.”

DAISY Foundation Awards allow patients, their families, and colleagues to nominate a nurse or midwife who has made a real difference through outstanding clinical care.

The awards have been adopted by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Horton General Hospital.

Trauma nurse Cora Santiago, who has worked with Louise for a long time, nominated her ‘role model’ for the first award to be honoured by the Trust because of her ‘supportive, dedicated, and compassionate’ leadership.

As part of her nomination, Cora said: “I have worked with Louise for the last 13.5 years – the whole time I have been a trauma nurse.

“She made an impression on me the first time I met her as she was so welcoming and supportive.

“She has become my role model. The professionalism she showed me, her caring attitude to patients and relatives, and the dedication she put into her work as a senior nurse in general are some of the reasons why I consider her my role model.

“She is the coolest, most approachable and most supportive leader I ever had.”

She added: “I’m sure my colleagues will agree with me if I say that she values us as her staff and the work we do together caring for patients.

“Louise is definitely a true friend, a caring and compassionate Nurse, an effective manager and a true leader.”

Recipients of DAISY awards are ‘surprised’ on the ward they work on, and are presented with an award pin, certificate, and a hand-carved sculpture entitled A Healer’s Touch.

More than 100 nominations have been made so far for OUH registered nurses and midwives, with 10 winners already identified.

There will be 24 awards a year; three for midwives and 21 for nurses. Recipients in 2018 will be invited to next year’s Staff Achievement Awards.

Sam said: “We launched the DAISY awards at our celebrations for International Nurses Day in May – to recognise excellence in nursing and midwifery care.

“It was very special to give our first DAISY award to Louise, and recognise her for her leadership providing compassionate care to both her staff and our patients.”

Professor Dickon Weir-Hughes, Magnet Programme Director, said: "DAISY is a key part of our journey to Magnet recognition which is a celebrated international programme recognising exceptional nursing.

“The DAISY Award is an opportunity to say 'thank you' to a nurse or midwife whose outstanding clinical care you will never forget.

“The amazing thing about DAISY and the huge following worldwide is to recognise not only the technical care nurses provide but also their compassion and their enduring kindness.”

Nominations are evaluated by our volunteers in the Magnet Program Team to ensure that the individuals meet the DAISY criteria.

To make a nomination click here to download the form. Complete it and return by email to [email protected] or post (address on form).