Healthcare Heroes Celebrated at National Awards
Today (20th November) more than 200 guests, including Baroness Dido Harding and Prerana Issar (Chief People Officer at NHS Improvement), gathered for the fourth annual Our Health Heroes awards at London’s Science Museum.
Organised by Skills for Health and headline sponsor Health Education England, the ceremony, which was hosted by Dr Dawn Harper and included a performance by former doctor-turned-writer Adam Kay, celebrated the country’s unsung healthcare heroes.
During the event, trophies were presented to the winners of eight national award categories including:
- Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by UNISON): Patrick Onyema, a trainee nursing associate at North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT)
- Operational Services Support Worker of the Year (sponsored by UNISON): Pauline Symington, a service assistant at Ulster Hospital, Northern Ireland
- Integrated Team of The Year: the End of Life Urgent Care Team at St Luke’s Hospice, Plymouth
- Learning and Development Project of the Year (sponsored by Kissing it Better): the Clinical Development Team – Nick Worth and Alison Day – at Ascent
- Clinical Support Worker of the Year: Paul Foster, a care support worker at Walsall Manor Hospital
- Workforce Planning Team of The Year (sponsored by Locum’s Nest): the Flexible Workforce Team at Bradford Teaching Hospitals
- Staff Retention and Wellbeing Employer of the Year: University Hospital Southampton
- Outstanding Contribution (sponsored by NHS Employers): Christina Ginsburg-Appleby, a palliative care discharge coordinator at Mountbatten Hospice on the Isle of Wight
Over 880 nominations were submitted by healthcare professionals and members of the public which were whittled down by the judges to four team winners and a shortlist of 30 for the four individual categories.
In the regional awards, the 12 finalists in each of the Operational Services and Clinical Support Worker categories along with three finalists in each of the Apprentice and Outstanding Contribution categories faced the public vote, during which more than 6,300 votes were cast.
John Rogers, Chief Executive at Skills for Health, said: “For the fourth year running I’ve been stunned by the quality of the nominations we have received for the Our Health Heroes awards.
“Congratulations to all of our winners; these awards are a testament to your hard work and commitment to healthcare across the UK.”
Laura Roberts, Director at Health Education England (HEE), said: “As the headline sponsor for Our Health Heroes 2019, we want to congratulate everyone who made it to the shortlist and further offer our congratulations to the winners of this year’s awards.
“It is clear from the high standard of nominations that our NHS teams continue to play a vital role in delivering safe and compassionate care for patients and support for one another.
“We are delighted to see people recognised for the role they play within our NHS and the dedication and passion they bring to their patients. It is truly down to these health heroes that the NHS can be the wonderful service that it is today.”
During the ceremony, which included an afternoon tea and exclusive set from Adam Kay, guests were invited to celebrate the achievements of 24 regional winners in the Operational Services and Clinical Support Worker of the Year categories as well as the two finalists in each of the apprentice and outstanding contribution awards.
These were as follows:
Operational Services Support Worker of the Year, sponsored by UNISON:
Eastern: Heather Butler, The Corner Stone Practice
East Midlands: Claire Hands, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
Greater London: Annabel Little, St Georges University Hospital
Northern: Dawn Nicholson, HF Trust Ltd
North West: Sarah Woods, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust
Scotland: Carl Brooks, NHS Orkney
Northern Ireland: Pauline Symington, South Eastern Trust
South East: Tracey Underhill, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
South West: Charlotte Rushton, Northern Devon Healthcare Trust
Wales: Helen Lumber, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust
West Midlands: Wayne Ingram, Lovett Care Ltd
Yorkshire and Humber: Reg Ramsden, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
Clinical Support Worker of the Year regional winners:
Eastern: Jackie Fitzsimons, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust
East Midlands: Kelly Stuart, UHL NHS Trust
Greater London: Pauline Urvoy, CNWL Southwest
Northern: Peter Haddow, Northumberland Tyne and Wear
North West: Olivia Gillon, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Scotland: Richard Gray, NHS Lothian’s Harm Reduction Team
Northern Ireland: Katrina Lavery, Southern Health & Social Care Trust
South East: Emma Worrell, Queen Victoria Hospital
South West: Nicolette Mahon, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital
Wales: Jade Benjamin, CWM Taf Morgannwg UHB
West Midlands: Paul Foster, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Yorkshire and Humber: Janet Pagdanganan, The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Outstanding Contribution finalists, sponsored by NHS Employers:
(Gold) Christina Ginsburg-Appleby, Mountbatten Hospice
(Silver) Janet Callaghan, Manchester Local Care Organisation
(Bronze) Sarah Armer, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Apprentice of the Year finalists, sponsored by UNISON:
(Gold) Patrick Onyema, North East London NHS Foundation Trust
(Silver) Sophie Pomroy, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
(Bronze) Ciaran Jones, University Hospital of North Midlands
For more information about all eight of the Our Health Heroes 2019 winners visit: www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/ohh-2019
Notes for editors:
About Skills for Health
Skills for Health
is a not-for-profit organisation committed to the development of an improved and sustainable healthcare workforce across the UK. Established in 2002 as the Sector Skills Council for Health for the UK health sector, it is the authoritative voice on workforce skills issues and offers proven solutions and tools, with the expertise and experience to use them effectively. To find out more visit www.skillsforhealth.org.uk
About Health Education England
Health Education England (HEE) exists to support the delivery of excellent healthcare and health improvement to the patients and public of England by ensuring that the workforce of today and tomorrow has the right numbers, skills, values and behaviours, at the right time and in the right place.
About UNISON
UNISON is one of the UK’s largest trade unions, serving more than 1.3 million members who work in a range of public services and utilities. UNISON’s 12 regions are Eastern, East Midlands, Greater London, Northern, Northern Ireland, North West, Scotland, South East, South West, Wales, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber. The union’s One Team campaign has been launched to ensure everyone in the NHS is valued, whatever their role. For more information, visit unison.org.uk
About NHS Employers
NHS Employers is the employers’ organisation for the NHS in England. We support NHS workforce leaders through our practical tools and resources, through our expert advice and guidance, and by listening to employers to ensure their voice is represented in health policy and practice.
About Kissing it Better
Kissing it Better is on a mission to end the isolation of old age by bringing the generations together. The charity’s imaginative healthcare projects make an immediate and lasting difference to the lives of frail older people across the country – they also give young people a unique and enriching experience. To find out more visit www.kissingitbetter.co.uk
About Locum’s Nest
Locum’s Nest is the mobile-first platform connecting doctors to temporary work in healthcare organisations, whilst helping hospital staff managers cut out the inefficient, ineffective and expensive agency middleman. To find out more visit www.locumsnest.co.uk
