Every month, a member of staff who has gone above and beyond for patient care is presented with the ‘Star of the Month’ prize and subsequently shortlisted for the overall Star of the Year award. This year, the award was scooped by Curtis Gracey, staff nurse within Doncaster Royal Infirmary’s busy Emergency Department (ED).
Curtis received a staggering ten nominations from his colleagues, all of whom noticed the exemplary care that he provides each and every day. Amongst a litany of accolades, team members were quick to praise the nurse for his hands-on approach, his enthusiasm for learning and his resilience when dealing with high-stress scenarios.
Beyond his commitment to work, Curtis was also credited for his incredibly warm and friendly personality, with reports that he is constantly smiling, reliable and approachable, never bowing to pressure and always willing to go the extra mile for patients.
Sponsoring the award was Lakeside Village, who were present on the day of the ceremony. David Aunins, Centre Manager, said: “We are so privileged to be in the company of these amazing individuals, as all the nominees were especially impressive this year. On that note, I want to say a huge ‘well done’ to Curtis for exhibiting the admirable core values that the public associate with the NHS.”
Curtis originally joined DBTH as a Bank Healthcare Assistant, meaning that he was a temporary worker, taking on shifts in order to meet fluctuating staffing needs, like those caused by unexpected illness or increased patient-need. Eventually, he qualified as a staff nurse and moved into a position at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, where he is now a pillar of support for his department, helping to teach others and offering constant encouragement and assistance.
Suzy Brain England OBE, Chair of the Board, said: “Curtis is a great ambassador for Team DBTH, as well as an invaluable asset to the ED team. His inspirational journey through the organisation demonstrates just how hard he is willing to work in order to excel in everything that he does. Starting off as a respected member of our bank staff, Curtis quickly developed into a promising student before settling into a new career as a staff nurse, where he is currently thriving.
“He has always shown a keenness to improve his knowledge, so that he can provide the best possible care. Moreover, he is obviously very popular with his colleagues, a fact that shines through in the abundance of nominations he has received. We are truly proud to have him on the team and are confident that he has a bright future ahead of him.’’
The DBTH Star Awards were held on Thursday 21 September and were presented by BBC Look North’s Harry Gration, MBE. With 12 awards handed out over the course of the evening – such as Unsung Hero of the Year, Leader of the Year and Rising Star – it was certainly a memorable night for all.