With 2021 officially designated as the International Year of Health and Care Workers, Ramsay Health Care Australia is joining a global celebration by thanking its nationwide workforce over the next 12 months.
The World Health Organization’s member states unanimously decided to recognise the dedication and sacrifice of millions of frontline workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than two million people have died globally due to the coronavirus, with infections still surging in many parts of the world at the same time as vaccines are being rolled out.
Ramsay, Australia’s largest private healthcare provider, is planning to acknowledge the 30,000-plus people staffing its hospitals, clinics, day surgeries, pharmacies and corporate areas.
“We faced so many unique challenges during 2020 and I am so grateful to our entire team for their ongoing dedication and commitment to others,” CEO Carmel Monaghan said.
“We have certainly seen the ‘people caring for people’ philosophy in action and I am confident our people will continue to display the Ramsay Way values throughout 2021.”
Ramsay Australia will profile at least one staff member from a different part of the country each week for the entire year, allowing them to share some of their motivations and aspirations with their peers.
“From nurses, pharmacists and allied health workers to kitchen staff, cleaners and procurement teams, we know everyone across Ramsay Australia has played a vital role in keeping people safe during the pandemic,” Ms Monaghan said.
“We will continue looking out for our colleagues and patients, building strong relationships, taking pride in our achievements, finding new ways of doing things better and seeking to grow sustainably as a business.”
Before COVID-19 pandemic hit, Ramsay had set a World Environment Day goal of removing 24 million plastic items from June 2020 to June 2021.
This target has been impacted by supply issues with several sustainable product alternatives, and the suspension of elective surgery in Australia, but the company has still managed to prevent more than nine million single-use plastic items from ending up in landfill over the past seven months.
“Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, our teams have remained committed to reducing the use of plastic items across our Australian facilities,” Ms Monaghan said.
“It is very pleasing that we have been able to achieve these impressive results considering the unforeseen circumstances which arose in 2020.”
Where possible, Ramsay is replacing plastic items with environmentally-friendly alternatives, such as compostable medication cups made of wood pulp.
“Congratulations to the procurement team for their ongoing work to help us realise this important environmental goal. We’re proud to be people who care for people and the planet,” Ms Monaghan added.
