Trauma response lead doctor at St Andrew's healthcare receives Rose of Northamptonshire Award

A doctor at St Andrew's Healthcare has been presented with a prestigious Rose of Northamptonshire award in recognition of her work in supporting staff affected by trauma.

Trauma response lead, Dr Annette Greenwood, has worked for St Andrew's Hospital for 12 years. She spent over 25 years with the NHS before joining the charity and she is currently the chair of the Crisis, Disaster and Trauma (CDT) section of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Dr Annette's Rose of Northamptonshire nomination reads: "Annette provides confidential trauma support for staff who have been affected by trauma, such as bereavement, violence or aggressive incidents at work. She has significant experience; previously she worked for the NHS as a consultant on several big and well known cases including Beverley Allitt, the Alder Hey organs scandal and the Madeline McCann case.

"Due to the complex nature of our patients' mental health, our staff are sometimes victims of physical, racial or verbal abuse. This is why Annette and her team are so vital, as they offer support to help staff process the trauma they have experienced and return to work.

"Sometimes her work helps staff who have lost people they were close to. Last year, when Covid hit, we sadly lost a number of patients and staff in a short period of time. Annette was the person who telephoned the loved ones of people who have died. This can't have been easy to do - but she treats each individual she comes across with compassion and kindness."

The Rose of Northamptonshire awards scheme was launched in October 2020 to recognise the county's 'unsung heroes' of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was organised by Northamptonshire County Council, the High Sheriff's office and Lord Lieutenancy and the nominations for the award come from members of the public.

The latest recipient of this award, Dr Annette, said: "I am delighted to receive this award in recognition for my work, as it has allowed me to reflect on all those I have seen and spoken with during this very difficult time.

"At St Andrew’s Healthcare, over the years, I have been encouraged to provide psychological support for our staff when they have experienced a trauma at work. The development of the Trauma Response Service has earnt national recognition for the model of care provided for our staff.

"It is important to have a timely response for our nurses and healthcare team. I really enjoy my role and the challenges it brings ensures I am always looking to improve the range of services we can provide.”

This comes after staff at local mental health charity established by St Andrew's Healthcare, Workbridge, also received a Rose of Northamptonshire last week. They received the award in recognition of their efforts to support isolated service users throughout lockdown.

You can find out more about the work of mental health charity, St Andrew's Healthcare by visiting their website.