Despite cutbacks and a heaving outpatient department, the hospital is a great work environment for staff, writes Anne Dempsey
Eight-year-old Cian Gavin from Co Kildare was born with an unusual bone disorder. "It's a mutant syndrome that messes around with bone growth development, can badly affect head and face, and causes fusion of the bones, tissues, nerve-endings and blood supply to the hands," says his father Simon, who, with his wife, Carol, has four other children.
Cian was born in the Middle East and when the family returned to Ireland they began an ongoing relationship with the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street.
The hospital was recently chosen as one of the 50 best companies to work for in Ireland, according to the largest national labour force study conducted by Great Place to Work Institute, a US-based research and management consultancy.
The award may seem unlikely today when hospital services are more likely to receive brickbats than bouquets.
Simon Gavin, however, is not surprised. "Our first contact was with their cranial facial unit. Initially we were at the hospital two or three times a month, and I used to say they had a little corner permanently reserved for us. Now it's been cut back to every month or so. Cian has had three major operations and any number of day surgical procedures.
"Still, we count ourselves among the lucky ones when we see the problems other families have to deal with. You think you are badly off with no shoes until you see the man with no feet. That's my personal lesson from Temple Street. I've met kids and parents there bearing burdens nobody should be asked to take on, but meeting the challenge head on with amazing courage and good humour.
"Their fortitude is matched by the professionalism, dedication, understanding and kindness of all the staff. The hospital is only a collection of buildings, it's the people who make the difference.
"Like other hospitals, they work with a lack of financial and physical resources. At any given time the outpatient department is heaving, yet you have staff managing the situation and still taking time for the smile and joke that can make all the difference."
Established in 1872 for the poor children of Dublin, Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, now operates under the care of the Sisters of Mercy, providing acute and specialist paediatric services for its catchment of 175,000 children, plus families countrywide.
It is a teaching hospital employing about 1,000 staff with an annual budget of €61 million and its A&E department is one of the busiest in the country, with 50,000 attendances a year.
So in the midst of that kind of stress and emergency, how did Temple Street score so well? One clue might be its size.
"Management, medical staff, nursing staff and porters - we all talk every day and pull together for the parents and the children. It just feels the place is the right size to allow that," says A&E consultant Dr Peter Keenan.
"I think that may be part of what makes the hospital a great place to work and given the kind of situations staff can face, it's only right to acknowledge what a rewarding experience it can be on occasion."
Michelle Murphy, the hospital's occupational therapy manager, helps children regain their independence after illness or injury. "Maybe I've been asked to speak to you as I probably look quite happy going about the place! It is very busy but friendly, and there are opportunities to get to know people from other departments. For example, we have lunchtime programmes such as Weight Watchers, Pilates and yoga, which can really help to reduce stress levels.
"There is lots of frustration with your day-to-day work, as is the nature of a children's hospital. On the other hand, I think staff feel generally supported with total access to senior management. The internal channels of communication are excellent."
Despite cutbacks, there are other examples of commitment to staff. The Well of Well Being, a programme to promote employee health and well-being through speakers and seminars, began in January. It is co-ordinated by consultant occupational health physician Dr Mary McMahon in conjunction with the HR department.
"The aim of occupational health is to minimise the health risks associated with working in a hospital, but the more emotionally happy the employee, the more open they are to being proactively healthy rather than being merely reactive," she says.
Effective relationships are the key to a successful working environment, agrees Bob Lee, director of Great Place to Work Institute. "In a great workplace, trust manifests itself in every relationship. Managers believe that employees want to be productive and encourage them to participate. Employees are enthusiastic and passionate about their mission. In a high-trust environment, people cooperate and collaborate, leading to positive workplace interactions.
"There is often the perception that deep pockets are needed for loads of things such as at-desk massage and a concierge dry cleaning service. Temple Street doesn't have the money for that and their success shows it's the respect and support staff members show each other that really makes the difference."
Great Place to Work Institute, tel: 01 8909510, info@discovery.ie www.greatplacetowork.ie