National awards for hard working healthcare teams

COLCHESTER, U.K. - Dec. 20, 2013 - PRLog -- The annual awards recognise team members that have gone that extra mile to help patients, colleagues or their local communities. Award-winners had been nominated by colleagues and a judging panel choose the winners in most categories, the two exceptions being the contribution to the community award and the unsung hero award, which were voted for by Care UK employees.

Mike Parish, Chief Executive for Care UK, said: “The work carried out by this year’s award-winners typifies the dedication our employees as a whole show in their many varied roles. There were some wonderful nominees in all the categories and choosing the winners was exceptionally difficult. I would like to congratulate all those who were nominated and take this opportunity to thank all our staff for the great work they carry out every day of the year to ensure people in need of care and health treatment receive the very best service.”

The award winners were:

- Angie Hill, a nurse working at a Bristol NHS 111 centre, won the Quality Improvement and Innovation Award. Susan Marshall, quality improvement and governance director, said: “Angie led the clinical team in Bristol to achieve a faster patient transfer rate from call-handler to clinician than in any other call centre within our NHS 111 network.”

- Jamilla Rashid, Joanne Rowbottom and Kate Buckle, who work for the Greater Manchester Clinical Assessment and Treatment Service, won the Improved Patient Experience Award. Mike Parish, Care UK Chief Executive, said: “This team has worked tirelessly to develop direct listing pathways for surgery with both independent healthcare providers and NHS Trusts across Greater Manchester. They have improved the patient experience by shortening the pathway and avoiding unnecessary outpatient attendances and further diagnostics in secondary care.”

- The Worcestershire and Warwickshire Flexi Nurses team won the Great Care Award. The team, which provides nursing cover at numerous locations across the two counties, was represented at the awards ceremony by Alison Burton, Nichola Harley and Megan Isaac. Andrew Prosser, finance director for healthcare at Care UK, said: “The team has shown a great commitment throughout a challenging time.”

- Carol Chapman, a nurse working for the Buckinghamshire Musculoskeletal Integrated Care Service, won the Contribution to the Community Award. For many years Carol has raised money for charities, run children’s summer camps, led Sunday schools, organised and supported groups for adults with learning disabilities. She’s so dedicated that even when she’s on leave, she runs a ‘lighthouse’ group for four to ten-year-olds. Karen McCormick, Group HR Director, said: “Carol Chapman won because, for the first time, we opened up the voting to all our colleagues. More than a third of them voted for our winner. She has devoted her time to good causes for many years, making a difference to children and adults alike.”

- John Tsikata a charge nurse in the healthcare centre at HMP Belmarsh in Greenwich, won the Inspiring Leader Award. Simone Hemingway, HR director for healthcare at Care UK, said: “John works hard to ensure the smooth running of the daily activities for the outpatient unit, so that we deliver excellent care for our patients. He is well respected by all staff across HMP Belmarsh and is supportive and encouraging. He leads from the front and demonstrates consistently high standards and enthusiasm.”

- Maggie Thomas, who works at the Emersons Green NHS Treatment Centre in Bristol, won the Unsung Hero Award. Mike Parish, Care UK Chief Executive, said: “Maggie is the first person patients and relatives see on arrival and you can see the personal difference that she makes. She welcomes the patients into the department and makes them feel at ease. Our patients and relatives start their visit with a smile on their face and it stays that way until they go home again.”

- Pat Baker and Maggie Whitlow, nurses who work at the Will Adams NHS Treatment Centre in Gillingham, won the Special Recognition Award – Secondary Care. Geoff Benn, managing director for secondary care at Care UK, said: “Pat and Maggie have been heavily involved in developing bowel screening through their dedication and hard work. Bowel cancer can be difficult to detect and early detection can help to save lives.”

- Richard Manton and Alan Ritson, drivers who work for LIMSS (Lincolnshire Intermediate Musculo-Skeletal Service), won the Special Recognition Award – Primary Care. Suzanne Lawrence, managing director for primary care at Care UK, said: “Richard and Alan deliver equipment to dispersed clinics for LIMSS practitioners across sites in Lincolnshire. They are conscientious and caring drivers whose dedication to our patients has resulted in no cancellations due to non-delivery of equipment.”

- Laura O’Riordan, service delivery manager for north central London out-of-hours, won the Special Recognition Award – Urgent Care. Edmund Jahn, managing director for urgent care, said: “When Laura joined, North Central London services were under significant scrutiny and pressure with a range of reviews, incidents and media interest. Through Laura’s strong leadership, the team now achieves a very high level of compliance with National Quality Requirements, and has a strong team spirit, great commissioner relationships and an improving profile for the service.”

- Dr Charles Lewis and his clinical team, who work at the Guildhall Walk Healthcare Centre in Portsmouth, won the Clinical Excellence Award. Belinda Moore, group marketing director for Care UK, said: “Dr Lewis has inspired his team to deliver exceptional healthcare.

- David Barrett from Human Resources won the Special Recognition Award – Support Functions. Andrew Russell, new business director, said: “Under David’s stewardship, and with his personal commitment, the use of the HR Information System has grown enormously across the health care division.

- The integration team, represented by Peter Crew, Liz Jones, Meryl Grung and Sarah Guy, won the MD Award for High Impact. Jim Easton, managing director, healthcare, said: “A huge team of people worked (and continue to work) tirelessly in addition to their regular job to ensure that Care UK, Harmoni, Harmoni for-Health and UK Specialist Hospitals were successfully integrated into one health care division earlier this year.”