Our launch back in August was the best the Unsung Heroes Awards have ever known and now we've double reason to celebrate as we've four colleagues through to the grand finals at the end of this month.
They are being held on February 28 at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester and celebrate the work of non-medical and non-clinical NHS staff and volunteers for all their hard work and achievements helping Trusts to provide care for patients.
Our finalists are:
- Robert Cox - for an IT & Digital award for his work as Senior Information/System Analysist in Information Management.
- Andrew Whitworth - Estates & Ancillary award for his work as Housekeeper. (Not pictured)
- Materials and Management & Stores team - Corporate Services award
- Karen English - Leadership Award for her role as Blood Transfusion Manager.
CHFT Weekly caught up with some of the finalists in advance
1 Robert joined August 2013 on a placement from the University Of Huddersfield for a yearr. He worked part -time for 10 months while he completed my degree then returned full time.
He said: " Everyone is very supportive of each other and there is encouragement to look at a process and find a better way of doing it. It’s the good kind of challenging. I'm so happy, it felt like an honour to be nominated and I was glad I was able to help.
2 Karen joined the Trust in January 2004 after coming from a major teaching hospital in London and found out she'd been nominated the day before she retired. "It was a complete surprise. I found out one day before my retirement. Waqas Abbass – who nominated me kept it so low."
3 Andrew - not pictured - was nominated for being "very thoughtful towards the patients and does anything they ask whether it being a cup of tea or assistance to unpack their bags."
4 Jaqui Yuen nominated Materials Management and Stores Team.
She said: "My team leaders who I nominated were amazed and stunned to find out they were finalists as they both consider what they do is not extraordinary. Overall the teams are looking forward and excited to be in the running for this national award and to hopefully win on the night of course!
The teams ensure the fast moving medical consumables are ordered and unpacked in all areas ready for use by clinicians as well as receipting in all direct spend orders. The service covers both hospitals with dedicated staff within Operating Services and X-Ray. Jaqui also chairs the WYAAT Clinical sub group which standardises products across West Yorkshire saving money as well as having consistency across the region which is better for patients and staff.