The Royal & St George Hospital spread Easter cheer
Spending Easter away from loved ones is hard on patients however a team of volunteers brought a little bit of sweetness to those doing it tough at the Royal Hospital for Women, and to the dedicated staff who worked tirelessly over the holiday to care for them.
The team of volunteers from Tata Consultancy Services, which has been spreading Easter cheer at the Royal Hospital for Women since 2015, burrowed through the wards to deliver 800 chocolate eggs and bunnies to staff, patients and their families.
Patrick Bodegraven, Public Sector General Manager, Tata Consultancy Services, said the donation is a way to give back to staff who selflessly care for the community during the busy Easter long weekend, and to put a smile on the faces of patients and their families.
Hollee Austin, mother to one of the Royal Hospital for Women's smallest patients, baby Skylah, welcomed the sweet delivery when the volunteers visited her in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where Skylah is being cared for. Hollee said her baby girl was no bigger than a chocolate Easter Bunny when she was born at The Royal in February this year - tiny Skylah weighed just 475 grams.
“A little bit of sweetness goes a long away, it relieves a little bit of stress,” Ms Austin said.
Meanwhile, wards and services at St George Hospital took part in an Easter Hat Parade to celebrate the holiday and raise funds for the hospital's upcoming International Nurses and Midwives Awards Dinner.
There were over 20 entries, and the models representing each team showed off their creative designs by walking down the atrium staircase to a curated soundtrack.
Four prizes were awarded, judged by Vicki Manning, Director of Nursing, St George Hospital and Julie Cosgrove, Acting Deputy Director of Nursing:
- First prize: Respiratory (Six B)
- Second prize: Operating Theatres
- Third prize: Aged Care (Seven West)
- Highly commended: Medical Assessment Unit (Three East)
Ms Manning said it was fantastic to see so much enthusiasm from staff: “There was an excellent turn out to watch the parade, and the hat entries were all very colourful and creative, which made judging very difficult.”
“I’d like to say thank you to the International Nurses and Midwives Committee at St George Hospital who developed the unique idea and put in a lot of work to ensure it was a success. An event which brings together a bit of fun with camaraderie among colleagues represents the vision we have for everyone who works at our hospital,” Ms Manning said.
