Pride of Guernsey: PEH operating theatre team

A TEAM of people who are rarely seen by patients yet provide essential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, has been nominated for the Angel of the Year Award. An anonymous islander has put forward the PEH operating theatre team for the Ravenscroft-backed award.

A TEAM of people who are rarely seen by patients yet provide essential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, has been nominated for the Angel of the Year Award.

An anonymous islander has put forward the PEH operating theatre team for the Ravenscroft-backed award.

The nomination said that this group provide a service for all Guernsey and Alderney residents.

‘The core team comprises nurses, operating department practitioners, theatre patient assistants, a stock controller, a sterile services assistant, theatre clerk as well as numerous students at any one time, who all work closely alongside the surgeons, surgical assistants and anaesthetists from the MSG to ensure patients have their operations performed safely every single day,’ said the nomination.

But it said it was essential to note that the team had the support of the PEH’s housekeeping staff, stores, sterile services department, porters, allied health professionals such as pathology, radiology and pharmacy, and other wards.

This support ‘enables this team to do what they do best, providing individualised care, support and compassion to every single patient they care for’.

Of course, most of the time patients are either asleep or otherwise do not see or remember the work being done for them during what can be a vulnerable time: ‘But being their advocate and keeping them safe and treated with dignity and respect is always the team’s priority.

‘The team support each other throughout good times and bad and have a real sense of family and friendship which enables them to keep being the best they can be behind closed doors for the island’s community.’