LATEST: Kildare woman is awarded Nurse Of The Year accolade

2024 Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI) Home Care awards

Daria Dobrzynska, Irish Home Care, from Naas in Co. Kildare has been named as Nurse of the Year at the 2024 Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI) Home Care awards, supported by Gallagher.

Daria was announced as the winner at an awards event in The Park Hotel, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.

The HCCI Nurse of the Year awards someone who shows exceptional abilities in the care of their clients and works to meet not just the medical/physical side of their care but also the mental and emotional well-being of clients.  The winner should demonstrate how nursing skills integrate and support social/home care.

A panel of independent judges – TV presenter & designer, Brendan Courtney; Professor Mark White, Executive Dean, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, RCSI; Katie Sloan, CEO, Leading Age, USA; Valerie Cox, journalist and author; Gerard Chimbganda, CEO of Good People; Caitriona Heffernan, National Clinical Innovation Lead, HSE and Tom O’Callaghan, CEO of iHeed chose Daria as the winner.

Professor Mark White, Executive Dean, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, RCSI, award sponsor and judge said, “Daria clearly deserves this award because of her exceptional work and commitment to involving other agencies and the community in the care of her clients. Daria goes above and beyond the expected norm and demonstrates ‘thinking outside of the box’, innovation and leadership. Her dedication has such a positive impact on her clients’ quality of life and wellbeing.”

Professor White continued, “The Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery in RCSI is honoured to sponsor the HCCI Nurse of the year award again this year. We are delighted to support the homecare sector workforce in whatever way we can, whether that is with education, professional development, research or just in advisory capacity, we welcome the opportunity to collaborate.”

Joseph Musgrave, CEO, HCCI which is the representative body for home care providers and advocates for home care services to be made available to all on a statutory basis, said, “Daria’s commitment and work ethic is truly inspirational, and I hope she recognises the hugely positive impact she has on her clients and their families. Sincere congratulations to Daria on her well-deserved recognition.”

Musgrave continued, “I would like to sincerely thank our event sponsor Gallagher whose support made this ceremony possible, as well as Leading Healthcare Providers Skillnet, Spry Finance, Bank of Ireland, the Access Group, RCSI Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery and Good People for their sponsorship of individual awards. We are also very grateful to our independent judges for their time and expertise. And thank you to all our members who nominated colleagues for the awards.”

Other award winners announced during the event were:

• Carer of the Year: Lynda Fagan, Be Independent Homecare. Award sponsor: Spry Finance.
• Manager of the Year: Bianca Borges, Danu Homecare. Award sponsor: Leading Healthcare Providers Skillnet.
• Scheduler of the Year: Nicola Fisher, Irish Home Care. Award sponsor: Access Group.
• HR of the Year: Louise Gillanders, Be Independent Homecare.
• Innovation Award: Deirdre Donaghy, Home Instead. Award sponsor: Bank of Ireland.
• Unsung Hero of the Year: Maria Borza, Irish Home Care. Award sponsor: Good People.
• Outstanding Contribution: Brendan Courtney. Award sponsor: Gallagher.

HCCI also recognised TV presenter & designer Brendan Courtney with the Outstanding Contribution award (sponsored by Gallagher). Presenting the award, Joseph described Brendan as “someone who has consistently advocated for home care services to be available for older people in the community’ and who has generously shared his parents’ stories and the challenges he and his siblings faced trying to access home care for his Mum and Dad when they needed support.”