Tania Silvester named LGT Star of the Month
Congratulations to Tania Silvester, Senior Sister on the Day Care Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, who is our LGT Star of the Month for May.
Tania was nominated for the Superstar Award and here is why: "Tania has dedicated 25 years of service to the Trust and was nominated in recognition of her exceptional leadership, compassion and unwavering commitment to both patients and colleagues.
"As Ward Manager, Tania has championed staff wellbeing, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that has boosted morale, encouraged professional development and contributed to excellent staff retention. She makes sure everyone feels heard, valued, and supported.
"Working alongside Sister Jane and the Learning Disabilities team, she has played a key role in improving the experience of patients with learning disabilities undergoing surgery in DCU, promoting personalised, inclusive care and helping to reduce anxiety for patients and their families.
"Following her recent return from retirement, colleagues felt it was important to recognise the lasting impact she has had on patients, staff and the wider organisation. Her dedication to compassionate care, supportive leadership and continuous improvement has left a legacy that continues to make a difference every day. She is truly deserving of this award.”
Tania was congratulated by her colleagues with a guard of honour, during which they applauded her and presented her with a certificate, a £100 voucher from LGT, and a fruit basket donated by Hasan Er, who runs the fruit stall at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Tania said: "I am surprised and absolutely delighted to have been nominated and to have received the LGT Star of the Month award. I am as enthusiastic about nursing as I was when I started 44 years ago and these sort of awards really help to keep staff motivated and to feel appreciated.
"Being kind has always been at the heart of my nursing career and I believe this goes hand in hand with taking care of patient and staff wellbeing. I am also excited about our QE Day Care Unit Compassion in Care project, which focuses on improving the patient experience, for our patient's with learning difficulties and so I am pleased to hear that this has also been highlighted and acknowledged in this nomination.
"I'd like to thank the staff who kindly nominated me and my wonderful team. I am so glad to be in a position which enables me to make a difference to their working environment and to hear that they feel well lead and supported. Thank you also to the Trust for this award. It means a lot to me."
Joy Beishon, CEO of Healthwatch Greenwich, who chaired this month's judging panel, said: “Healthwatch Greenwich were pleased to support the nomination of Senior Sister Tania Silvester and the LGT Star of the Month award.
"The accounts shared describe someone who understands that the quality of care people receive is inseparable from the culture experienced by the staff providing it. The testimony suggests that Tania has spent many years creating an environment where trust, dignity and compassion are not simply spoken about but actively delivered.
"Particularly impressive is the work undertaken to improve the experience of patients with learning disabilities. The examples highlighted in this nomination demonstrate a commitment to equity through practical action, personalised care and support tailored to individual needs.
"Colleagues describe a leader who makes time for people, recognises achievements, supports wellbeing and creates an environment where staff feel listened to and valued.
"The experiences described suggest a leader who has made a meaningful contribution to supporting staff wellbeing and improving the experience of some of the most vulnerable patients using NHS services. For these reasons, we believe Tania is a deserving recipient of the Star of the Month Award.”
