Healthy return from Scottish awards night

And winning not one, but two awards, was the 30-strong multi-disciplinary team from Melburn Lodge – the 14-bed inpatient unit for older adults with dementia at the Borders General Hospital, who won the Top Team and Care for Mental Health categories.

“We’re all absolutely thrilled and really humbled to learn that the care award nomination came from the family of one of our patients,” said Christine Proudfoot, the ward’s senior charge nurse.

“Our patients can no longer be in their communities, so our philosophy is to bring the communities to them,” she explained.

The ward thus welcomes families, carers and friends and actively engages with the wider community, including the primary six children of Melrose Primary who visited recently to present handmade art work for the 1960s-themed sitting room.

And also revealed as a winner on the glittering evening was superintendent radiographer at the BGH, Dr Fiona Hawke, who won the Therapist Award.

Hamilton-born Fiona, who lives near Bowden, is a specialist in gastro-intestinal imaging, and gives her staff the best possible opportunities for continuous professional development.

“I consider I have the best of all career worlds – meeting patients face to face and gaining great satisfaction from helping colleagues, particularly those graduates who are newly qualified and, hopefully, setting them on the right career path,” said Fiona.

Also short-listed on the night was the Earlston-based local area co-ordination team from the Scottish Borders Learning Disability Service.