Spire Wellesley Hospital Physiotherapist receives IRIS award

• Spire Wellesley Hospital celebrates as Suzy Smith is recognised for the difference she makes to patient’s lives

 Spire Wellesley Hospital was proud to host an award ceremony to congratulate and celebrate physiotherapist, Suzy Smith. Colleagues from across the hospital came together to celebrate Suzy as she was awarded an Inclusive Recognition of Inspirational Staff (IRIS) Award by Helen Christodoulides, Spire Healthcare’s Deputy Group Clinical Director.

The IRIS Awards recognise the hard work and pivotal role of clinical colleagues in providing excellent care to patients. Any Spire Healthcare patient or colleague can nominate someone for an award and receiving this is a testament to the compassionate and outstanding care Suzy provides for her patients.

Suzy was nominated for this award by Sandra Harrington-Brain, Director of Clinical Services at Spire Wellesley Hospital, after recognising that there wasn’t a ‘Mummy MOT’ service for new mums available locally.

Sandra Harrington-Brain, Director of Clinical Services at Spire Wellesley Hospital, said: “I am so proud of Suzy for winning the first IRIS award for Spire Wellesley Hospital. The IRIS award is a reminder of our appreciation and recognition for the hard work and difference Suzy makes every day to the patients and colleagues she works with. Suzy has demonstrated our values in her work and we are really proud to have her working in our hospital, delivering the best care to our patients.”

A Mummy MOT is a specialised post-natal assessment from six weeks post birth, onwards. After having a baby, half of all women have weakness in either tummy muscles or pelvic floor, with up to one third of women post birth suffering with complex pelvic problems such as back pain, pelvic pain, bladder and bowel weakness. A Mummy MOT helps assess and address these symptoms by creating a bespoke post-natal recovery plan, getting mums back to function or fitness goals.

Spire colleagues from across the 38 hospitals were nominated for an IRIS award and Suzy was selected by a cross-departmental panel and was one of three IRIS award winners this quarter.

Helen Christodoulides, Deputy Group Clinical Director at Spire Healthcare, said “I am delighted to present this award to recognise Suzy’s innovative idea to establish a Mummy MOT service. She really demonstrated Spire Healthcare’s purpose to make a positive different to peoples lives. Well done Suzy!”

Suzy Smith, Physiotherapist at Spire Wellesley Hospital, said: “I was very surprised and proud to hear that I had won the IRIS award. I have very much enjoyed developing The Mummy MOT service over the last year and I believe it provides new mums a service that is simply not offered elsewhere. I really feel we are helping provide excellent aftercare for new mums and I enjoy empowering women post pregnancy/birth, addressing the multiple problems that can arise.  

"Thank you to my colleagues here at Spire Wellesley Hospital for supporting me with this service development. I’m excited to continue to see it grow.”