Last night the Trust recognised our fabulous colleagues at a tremendous night of awards - Celebrating Success 2016.

Carole Hallam and Maggie Shepley collected the top honour of the night at Huddersfield Town Hall - the Gordon McLean award named after our former chairman - for their work providing better care for patients with catheters.

We had the mayors of Calderdale and Kirklees, and our very own "second-hand" Ant and Dec (their words) Chairman Andrew Haigh and CEO Owen Williams presented on stage.

It was a night of fab frocks (as the picture gallery here) shows and all-round achievement - not just the winners. Owen said: "Everyone here tonight works collectively to make CHFT care as good as it can be for our patients. Together it really does make a difference. Please, please, please, if you've won a gong or not, it doesn't matter, you are all doing exceptional work."

He said the night was a real high point in the year which made him very proud because the range of finalists showed how local people get the very best care.

Last year's winner Marilyn Rogers said "It is an amazing feeling to win."

As another highlight, Owen also revealed our A&E performance is amongst the best in the country (95% of patients seen in four hours).  He said: " We are fifth best in the country. We will have a bit of that. Other CEOs ask me "how do you do it? and I tell them I am not doing anything, I have more than 5,000 colleagues who put our patients first. That's how we do it"

Maggie Shepley, receiving the top award with Carole Hallam, said: "I am very very humbled  to be here. It started as an idea and I was privileged to lead it. I want to say a massive, massive, thank you for all the teamwork and I really, want to thank everybody.." She joked: " When I'm usually seen with a microphone I have half a lager and I'm singing karaoke!"

The Mayor of Kirklees Jim Dodds, said: "On behalf of everyone in Kirklees, Thank you.  Tonight makes me very proud to be part of Kirklees. The Mayor of Calderdale, Howard Blagborough said: " Well done everyone for being here. There should be a drum roll for you all."

Judith McLean, presenting the award in her late husband's memory, said she had had many different types of care from CHFT - excluding maternity! -  and said: " I thank you for your kindness. The NHS is in the news every day for one reason but tonight Celebrating Success is just what you should be doing. I say that as a patient and on behalf of all your patients."

In all eight awards were presented including the "people" categories and those based on our Four Pillars.