A local KIlkenny nurse was honoured by her colleagues and friends recently at an event which recognises excellence in nursing.
Staff and friends of St Luke’s Hospital gathered on Wednesday evening June 8, at the Set Theatre in Kilkenny for the presentation of the inaugural Helen O’ Neill Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Team Award.
The recipient of this year’s award, chosen from among her peers in St Luke’s was Denise Blanchfield — a diabetes nurse at the hospital.
The award commemorates the late Helen O’ Neill, who prior to her untimely passing in 2006 had been a midwife, clinical nurse manager and valued and distinguished member of staff at St Luke’s. Helen’s husband Martin has developed the awards scheme, in co-operation with the director of nursing office at St Luke’s. An adjudication panel looked at nominations submitted by staff from throughout the hospital and shortlisted five finalists for this year’s award. KCLR’s Edwina Grace acted as MC for the awards ceremony at the Set Theatre, with RTE’s Helen Carroll making a presentation to each of the 2011 finalists and to Denise Blanchfield as the first recipient of the Award.
Speaking after the presentation of the award to Denise Blanchfield, Avilene Casey said: “Hospital management and staff, and indeed the Friends of St Luke’s Hospital are delighted to be associated with this award initiated by Martin O’ Neill in memory of his late wife and our esteemed former colleague Helen. The award celebrates and acknowledges excellent nurses midwives and healthcare assistants.
“We congratulate our colleague Denise Blanchfield of our diabetes department, a most deserving recipient of the inaugural award. A dedicated advanced practitioner, Denise achieved a qualification in nurse prescribing and most recently a masters in advanced nurse practice. Denise displays excellent interpersonal and communication skills, which enables her to have a good working relationship with colleagues, management and most of all with all her patients.”
“I’d like to thank my colleagues on the adjudication panel: Lila Kelly (Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Waterford Regional Hospital ), Breda Culleton (Retired member of Nursing Staff, St. Luke’s General Hospital, Kilkenny ), Barbara Schofield (Representing Friends of St. Luke’s General Hospital, Kilkenny ) and Mark White (A/Director of Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development, HSE South ) and to Carl Parker Jewellers, Langton’s Hotel, the O’ Neill family, Edwina Grace, Helen Carroll and anyone else who helped us out on the night”.
