Two nurses from Kraaifontein and one from Kuils River were among eight nurses awarded a Hartman Nursing Award over the weekend at Tygerberg Hospital for their excellence.
These annual awards are named after the former chief nurse of the hospital, Maria Hartman and they are intended to reward the excellence of nurses in the clinical nursing field.
Other winners hail from Parow and surrounds.
This was the 31st Hartman Awards Ceremony since it started in 1990, when it was created to celebrate Ms Hartman’s retirement and service. A total of 90 nurses were nominated for the latest awards.
The winners scored in the categories of Emergency Services, Theatre and the Infection Prevention and Control.
Hailey Mills, 59, a seasoned nurse from Kraaifontein, is one of the winners in the Emergency Services category. She was “very surprised and blessed” to be announced as one of this year’s winners.
“I started working at Tygerberg in 1984 and I have been here for 38 years – uninterrupted service. We worked throughout the times of Covid-19. I also contracted the virus two times, got better and came back to serve the people.
“I think every nurse deserves the award at the end. I started as a staff (nurse) and as a registered nurse and then I have worked with trauma and emergency cases,” she said.
Western Cape MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomafrench Mbombo, expressed gratitude for the recognition of nurses.
“I am delighted that we can formally honour our nursing staff for their contribution made to the health system. Nurses deserve to be celebrated and commended for their hard work and dedication in providing quality health care to our patients at our facilities,” she said.
Another seasoned nurse, Francis Pietersen from Kraaifontein, was recognised in the Infection Prevention and Control category.
She spent many years of her youth in the Eastern Cape but finally ended up in Cape Town for school and work.
Nurse Pietersen said more than anything, the award reflected good teamwork.
“I am originally from Somerset East in the Eastern Cape. I grew up there and studied in Cradock as well. I did my nursing studies at the Sarleh Dollie Nursing College here in Cape Town.
“This award is under unit management, but it is a team effort,” she said, adding that everyone working with her made it possible to get this award. “It’s housekeeping because there is a club working there: doctors and nursing staff,” she said.
She started working as a unit manager in the A10 unit in 2016, an endocrine ward which falls under internal medicine.
Suritha Ferreira, from Kuils River, who won in the Theatre category could not be reached for comment.
The event was sponsored by the Tygerberg Hospital Facility Board.