Rochdale divisional nurse manager recognised with award

The divisional nurse manager for unscheduled care at Rochdale Infirmary has been named Manager of the Year.

Julie Owen bagged the award at the Pennine Acute Trust’s second annual awards event.

Ms Owen was praised for achieving the successful transfer of acute inpatient services from Rochdale Infirmary involving more than 300 staff and patients, as part of the Healthy Futures reconfiguration programme.

She said: “I was both pleased and proud to receive the award for Manager of the Year at the Trust Staff Awards event. The award was extra special for me as the nominations had come from my staff and I was touched that they had taken the trouble to put my name forward.

“I have been incredibly lucky to work with some of the most dedicated and committed staff in the NHS today over the past six months. They have worked tirelessly for patients and the Trust and they have proved themselves to be a credit to their profession. The award is as much theirs as mine.

“Whatever my position on the management ladder, I am a Registered Nurse first and I am in no doubt as to where my loyalties lie; first and foremost to patients and then to the staff I manage. To have this recognised in the form of a Trust award has been both humbling and rewarding.”