Above: Berwick masseur Penny Gray pampers nursing auxiliary Ros Purcell at the St John of God Hospital Berwick’s thank you day.By Jim Mynard
ST JOHN of God Hospital Berwick pampered its cleaners, bedmakers and kitchen staff for one day last week.
The hospital treated its ‘backstage’ workers to massages, roses, chocolates, and a special lunch.
Mission leader Brendan Egan suggested it was time to show the 27 orderlies, catering, housekeeping and equipment sterilising staff how much they were appreciated.
Hospital chief executive and nursing director Tony Hollamby said the idea supported St John of God’s basic principles and beliefs of justice, excellence, compassion, respect and hospitality.
“We wanted to make all caregivers at the hospital realise they were equally valued.
“So this was an opportunity for us to say thank you. Unfortunately in many organisations the cleaning and catering staff sometimes get forgotten, but we think they’re of equal value. Certainly from the feedback we get from our patients they seem to do a really good job,” Mr Hollamby said.
Other staff members supplied lunch, and Berwick masseur Penny Gray, of Serenity on High, gave the massages.
Catering staffer Judy Green, of Beaconsfield, said it was a wonderful day. “There should be more of it,” she said.
