Devon Health Hero revealed
A clinical apprentice at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital has been recognised with a Our Health Heroes award.
The honours have been created by Skills for Health and the National Skills Academy for Health in partnership with UNISON.
Stephanie Crump has been chosen as a national finalist for Clinical Support Worker of the Year.
She has been nominated for her caring and compassionate nature. Her confidence has really grown since she left the armed forces due to injury, according to colleagues. Stephanie is a role model for new staff and now mentors apprentices on the ward.
The clinical apprentice is among 24 men and women keeping the NHS running behind the scenes and improving the lives of patients who are recognised today (Tuesday).
Healthcare teams across the UK were asked to nominate colleagues for one of two awards – Clinical Support Worker of the Year and Operational Services Worker of the Year. The names of those shortlisted as regional winners will now go forward to a public vote to choose an overall national winner in each category.
The awards celebrate the exceptional contribution made by healthcare staff including hospital porters, emergency care assistants and admin officers who are crucial in the delivery of patient care yet rarely get praised for the work they do.
The awards received over 500 entries, including nearly 50 from the South West. Selected by a panel of industry judges, Stephanie and the other finalists were chosen for their ability to put patients first, to act as positive role models to colleagues and to overcome personal challenges in their lives.
John Rogers, chief executive at Skills for Health, said: “The NHS couldn’t function without the dedication of clinical support workers and operational service staff. They ensure that hospitals and healthcare practices around the UK provide the best care possible for patients.
“They keep the health service running efficiently and effectively, yet their efforts often go unnoticed. Our research has shown that the health sector can only reach its potential in terms of productivity and efficiency by understanding the contribution and value of support workers.
“We are delighted with the calibre of award entries we have received and the judges certainly had a difficult task in selecting our regional winners. Each of our 24 national finalists are already winners in their region, and should be proud of their commitment to their roles in healthcare.”
The winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony hosted at UNISON’s headquarters in Euston, London, on 29 November 2016. People can vote for Stephanie to win the overall award for Clinical Support Worker of the Year via: www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/ohh-vote until 14 November 2016.
Candace Miller, director of the National Skills Academy for Health, said: “As an organisation devoted to ensuring healthcare support staff have access to the training they need for the job they love, we have been really pleased to see so many responses giving recognition to the fantastic contribution support staff make to healthcare services.
“Each of our 24 regional winners has shown remarkable dedication to their jobs and the delivery of patient care. Each of them is a compassionate, forward thinker and a role model to colleagues for their positive attitude. We are looking forward to celebrating all of our inspirational winners from across the clinical and operational services support workforce who make a significant difference on a daily basis.”
Christina McAnea, Head of Health at UNISON said: “Without the hard work and dedication of support staff, nurses, paramedics, midwives, radiographers and other health colleagues, would quite simply be unable to do their jobs.
“It’s vital we celebrate the amazing work of clinical support and operational services staff, which often goes way above and beyond their roles. They are the unsung heroes of the NHS.”
The awards follow on from the #OurHealthHeroes social media campaign launched by Skills for Health in February that encouraged people to share stories about workers who make a difference. The campaign has been supported by organisations including Health Education England, Alder Hey Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Southmead Hospital.
Our Health Heroes awards celebrates the nearly 800,000 staff across the UK’s health sector who work as healthcare assistants, assistant practitioners, porters, cleaners, caterers, maintenance workers and administrative staff by encouraging people who have benefited from their support to share their stories.
To vote for Stephanie as Clinical Support Worker of the Year visit: www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/ohh-vote until 14 November 2016.
