A team of caring medical staff from Wyndham have been rewarded for their compassion towards patients.
On May 24, employees from the pastoral care teams at both Werribee Mercy Hospital and the Mercy Hospital for Women in Heidelberg were recognised at the Spiritual Care Australia Awards (SCAA) in Queensland.
The two teams received a Best of Care award at the ceremony, which acknowledges outstanding contributions to the field of holistic care.
The pastoral care teams help pregnant women who are unexpectedly admitted to hospital and parents of premature babies.
The Werribee Mercy Hospital pastoral unit also supports patients in the medical and surgical wards, as well as the palliative care unit.
Werribee Mercy Hospital’s pastoral care manager Trudy Keur said her team worked closely with other staff at the hospital to provide care for patients with different cultural and religious beliefs.
Ms Keur said the SCAA award meant “a great deal” to the pastoral workers, who often assisted people who were experiencing significant trauma – such as parents who lost a child.
“There is nothing more stark or confronting than when a mother and her partner are expecting life but instead are dealt death,” Ms Keur said.
“We offer emotional and spiritual support while enabling mothers, partners and families to create precious memories and honour their baby in whichever way is meaningful to them.”
