An electric energy surged through Mediclinic Newcastle on Wednesday, 15 May 2024. The day had finally arrived to celebrate the Daisy Awards and announce the winners of the prestigious accolade which focuses on celebrating the dedication shown by the private hospital’s nursing staff.
Reflecting on the significance of the day, Mediclinic Newcastle’s Hospital General Manager, Japie Greyling, elucidated that the Mediclinic Newcastle team had gathered to celebrate the remarkable dedication and compassion of some of the medical facility’s nursing staff, who consistently go above and beyond to provide exceptional care to their patients.
“Nurses play a crucial role in the healthcare industry, often being the first point of contact for patients in need. They are the backbone of any healthcare institution, working tirelessly to ensure the well-being and comfort of those under their care,” explained Greyling.
Such is the importance of nurses within the medical sector, Greyling referred to Florence Nightingale who once said, “Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter’s or sculptor’s work; for what is the having to do with dead canvas or cold marble, compared with having to do with the living body—the temple of God’s spirit? It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said the finest of Fine Arts.”
With this in mind, Greyling noted that Mediclinic Newcastle’s nurses exemplify this dedication and commitment to their profession each and every day.
“They provide not only medical care, but also emotional support to patients and their families during difficult times. As Maya Angelou once said, “They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” Our nurses make a lasting impact on the lives of those they care for, leaving a positive and lasting impression that goes far beyond their medical treatment,” said Greyling.
Furthermore, he noted that Mediclinic Newcastle’s nurses are not just caregivers, they are leaders in their own right, guiding and inspiring their colleagues to strive for excellence in everything they do. “They set an example for others to follow, showing them the way to provide the highest quality care with compassion and empathy.”
Moreover, he stated that excellence in nursing was not achieved overnight, as it required continuous learning and improvement. Greyling pointed out that as Florence Nightingale once said, “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse.”
“Our nurses embody this spirit of perseverance and dedication, constantly seeking out opportunities for growth and development in order to provide the best possible care for their patients. They never settle for mediocrity, always pushing themselves to be the best they can be in their profession,” declared Greyling.
Due to this, he explained that at the event, they were there to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of their nurses who had gone above and beyond in their commitment to excellence.
“The recipients of the Daisy Award are shining examples of the compassion and dedication that define the nursing profession. Their unwavering dedication to their patients and their willingness to go the extra mile do not go unnoticed, and we are proud to honour them,” elaborated Greyling, who further described Mediclinic Newcastle’s nurses as the unsung heroes of the healthcare industry, quietly and diligently carrying out their duties with grace and compassion.
Adding to this and discussing the Daisy Awards, Dr Yvonne Combrinck, Nursing Manager at Mediclinic Newcastle, explained that the Daisy Foundation was initially established in 1999 by the family of Patrick Barnes who died from complications of an autoimmune disease.
“Like many families we see every day, who go through this kind of horrific loss, the Barnes family wanted to do something positive to honour the special man Patrick was,” she began, noting that after some deliberation, they came up with the idea for the Daisy Foundation. The word Daisy is an abbreviation for Disease attacking the Immune System.
After brainstorming what the Daisy Foundation’s function would encompass, Dr Combrinck explained they kept coming back to the dedication, kindness and compassion showed by the nursing staff during Patrick Barnes’s eight week stay at the hospital.
Due to the difference the nurses made in the lives of the Barnes family, the Daisy Awards were created to celebrate extraordinary nurses. This then spread to the point where thousands of medical facilities around the globe embraced the Daisy Awards. “We are very proud to partner with Daisy, as we have extraordinary nurses at Mediclinic Newcastle,” said Dr Combrinck.
Therefore, she then highlighted the six nominees who were selected and voted on by patients who experienced immense positivity from Mediclinic Newcastle’s nurses. Additionally, she shared messages from the patients who noted why they believed each nurse deserved to be acknowledged with a Daisy Award.
While each nominee’s story pulled on the heartstrings of the attending guests, three nurses truly stood out and were dubbed the day’s winners.
The nurses are as follows:
- Sister Yolanda Roos: According to a patient who nominated Sister Yolanda Roos, she went beyond the call of duty by ensuring that her patients were not only always informed but always pepped up the patients in the mornings and took time to always ensure patients were alright.
- Sister Gwen Williams: One of the patients who nominated Sr Williams explained that she was a gem who made the NICU patients and families feel like an extended family of Mediclinic Newcastle, while conversing with the parents and ensuring that they were doing well.
- Sister Julie Meineke. The patient who nominated Sister Meineke explained that she had spent weeks in hospital after developing Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare condition in which a person’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves. Having to be hospitalised every month over the next year following the diagnosis, the patient explained that Sister Meineke went beyond the call of duty to ensure that she received the best possible treatment and make sure she was comfortable in the hospital. Such was Sister Meineke’s efforts, that six years later, the two remained in contact with each other.
With the three nurses displaying immense dedication and going beyond the job scope for their patients, Sister Williams explained that she was extremely happy about receiving an award. “It is a milestone in my career. I do my work every day and I always hope that I am doing best, and being acknowledged is amazing,” she noted.
Elated about her win, Sister Williams added that her biggest motivation was seeing mothers and babies leave the hospital happy, and ready to embark on their lives together.
Sister Roos noted that receiving an award was a great achievement for her. “I feel acknowledged in a special way. What motivates me, can be found in Philippines 4:13 which says: I can do everything through Jesus Christ who gives me strength. I would not be here if Jesus had not guided me to become a nurse.”
Sister Meineke explained she was both extremely proud and surprised about her award. “I love my career and I always do my best for the patients during their stay, treating them like family. And my motivation is to do my best each day.”
While three nurses received Daisy Awards, the nursing staff were all reminded that their efforts and dedication have not gone unnoticed, as each played an essential role within the medical sector, and the lives of their patients.
With the above in mind, the community is called on to applaud the winners of the Daisy Awards in Newcastle in the comment section below, and to remember that the medical sector would be very different without the compassion shown by nurses.
