Spire Parkway Hospital colleague recognised for outstanding service in dementia care

An Occupational Therapist at Spire Parkway Hospital has been presented with an IRIS Award following nominations from colleagues for her work in developing dementia friendly care and colleague education within the hospital.

Diana Heinrich is 1 of 7 recipients of an IRIS Award across Spire Healthcare’s 38 hospitals and 50 clinics. Presented to Diana on Allied Health Professionals Day, the award was part of Spire Parkway Hospital’s celebrations to acknowledge the dedication and efforts of all its allied professionals who deliver excellent patient care every day.

The IRIS (Inclusive Recognition of Inspirational Staff) Awards recognise extraordinary clinical colleagues who go above and beyond in their roles – voted for by both patients and colleagues.

Diana Heinrich, who is an Occupational Therapist and Dementia Lead at Spire Parkway Hospital, provides dementia training to colleagues to improve the experience that people living with dementia face when accessing healthcare for non-dementia conditions.

Thanks to Diana, people with dementia and their families are met with a supportive road to recovery, from the initial phone call to schedule an appointment, right through to the day of post-operative discharge.

Diana celebrating with her IRIS Award

Rebecca Turley, Director of Clinical Services at Spire Parkway Hospital, added: “This is a wonderful example of exemplary care and putting our patients’ needs first. As a result of Diana’s dedication to dementia care, Parkway Hospital continues to meet the needs of our patients living with dementia, as well as supporting the families of those coming into the hospital. Congratulations Diana!”

Diana Heinrich, Occupational Therapist and Dementia Lead at Spire Parkway Hospital, said: “It is an honour to be presented with an IRIS Award and I am extremely grateful that the dementia care efforts at Parkway have been recognised nationally. I always strive to put our patients first, by providing a personalised treatment plan for every patient, in a comfortable and dignified environment. It is important for me to continue dementia training, to ensure patients with dementia and their families can feel supported right from the start of their journey with us.”

Commenting on all the award winners, Spire Healthcare’s Group Clinical Director and Chief Nursing Officer Professor Lisa Grant said, "I’d like to offer special congratulations to Diana and all our IRIS Award winners. Your dedication and excellence have stood out, and these awards reflect the profound impact you’ve made on your teams and your patients. We are incredibly proud of you".