City Hospitals Sunderland celebrates NHS heroes
Individuals and teams were nominated for going the extra mile and making a significant contribution in key areas, such as patient care, leadership, service improvement and innovation. More than 80 staff with 30 and 40 years’ NHS service were also recognised for their long service.
Chief Executive Ken Bremner presented the highly-prized awards, including his Chief Executive’s Award, given to the person he feels deserves extra recognition.
This year, that award went to Ruth Rayner, Clinical Lead, Adult Speech and Language Therapy. Ruth, who also celebrated 30 years’ service, was described as an inspiration to all in Speech and Language Therapy, balancing her clinical caseload with her managerial responsibilities, all the while supporting her colleagues’ development and being instrumental in putting adult speech therapy at Sunderland on the map.
Mr Bremner said: “Ruth has had a fantastic career and I know members of her team believe they would not be the clinicians they are today without her so this award is richly deserved.”
The Awards, which are open to all staff, recognise the many varied roles that play a vital part in the running of City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.
Mr Bremner said: “Outstanding, inspiring work goes on in our Trust every single day and the Reward and Recognition Awards are our way of recognising the contribution staff make and showing how much they are valued by saying a public thank you. The nominations are submitted by their peers and I know it means a lot to them to know that they have the support and respect of their colleagues.
“I would like to congratulate all those nominated and all of the winners. It is always uplifting to see so many shining examples of care and dedication and this year is no exception.
“It is also a privilege to recognise all those celebrating 30 and 40 years’ service in the NHS. It is absolutely incredible to think that between them they have almost 2,800 years’ service. Their loyalty and dedication to contributing to the delivery of the very best patient care every single day of the year should make us all feel very proud.”
The full list of winners is:
Individual Award for Customer Service
Michelle McCormack, Directorate Manager Support for Trauma & Orthopaedics
Team Award for Customer Service
Cataract Treatment Centre
Service Improvement and Innovation Award
Prostate Pathway Improvement Team
Care and Compassion Award
Neil Jennings, Consultant Bariatric Surgeon
Non-Clinical Team of the Year
Practice Education Team
Clinical Team of the Year
Diabetes Wound Care Team
Leadership Award
Steve Bell, Theatre/Day of Surgery Admissions Unit Manager
Outstanding Contribution Award
Geoff Lawson, ConsultantPaediatrician and Clinical Director
Excellence Report of the Year Award
David Kilner, Portering and Security Supervisor
Council of Governors’ Award
Maria Groark and Jacqueline Lay, Phoenix Unit
The Chief Executive’s Award
Ruth Rayner, Clinical Lead, Adult Speech and Language Therapy
