Ruby Wax applauds nurses and doctors at Pennine Acute NHS Trust’s top staff awards

Kevin Worsley receives the Administrative or Secretarial worker of the Year Award from Ruby Wax and Mike Lee of CSC.

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A consultant neonatologist, Dr Ofeogbu, based at The Royal Oldham Hospital’s new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was awarded the Hospital Doctor of the Year Award, whilst caring staff nurse Anthony Rennie working on a rehabilitation ward (A2) at the hospital was named Nurse of the Year at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust’s fourth annual staff awards event.

Heathcare assistant Terry Outteridge won Support Worker of the Year and Kevin Worsley, a clerical receptionist based in health records at Rochdale Infirmary, who has been described as having a ‘patient first’ attitude, was also thrilled after winning the Administrative or Secretarial Worker of the Year Award.

The Staff Awards 2013 consisted of 13 categories which recognised the very best of patient care, dedication and innovation across the Trust’s four hospital sites and community services, and its 9,000 staff.

At a special final awards ceremony at Manchester City FC Etihad Stadium, TV personality and comedian, Ruby Wax, announced the staff winners.

Dr Ofeogbu was the first neonatal consultant to be appointed to the shop floor at the Trust’s new £44m women and children’s development at The Royal Oldham Hospital which serves families from Oldham, Rochdale borough and surrounding areas. She made a significant contribution to the evolution of the local neonatal unit into a regional neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Dr Ofoegbu said: “I am truly humbled and would like to thank my colleagues who nominated me. It’s been an incredible and rewarding service, building up the tertiary neonatal service at The Royal Oldham Hospital. However, I believe I am the doctor that I have become due to the nursing, medical and managerial support within our evolving new unit.” 

Described as an excellent receptionist in the health medical records department, Kevin Worsley is the first point of contact for patients attending the oral surgery department at Rochdale Infirmary. He deals with each patient with real care and grace and recognises when patients are nervous or anxious. Greeting them warmly and trying to put them at their ease, Kevin in passionate about providing excellent customer care and provides a ‘patient first’ attitude.

Kevin said: “It has come at a nice time for me as this is my 10th year working in the NHS and it's really given me a boost to have been recognised for the hard work I have put into the department. I've always enjoyed working in medical records as everyone gets on so well as everyone works together as a team and I get a lot of job satisfaction being able to help patients with any queries they may have. A lot of our colleagues work so hard and the staff awards are a great way of acknowledging this.”

Presenting the awards, Ruby Wax, said: “This is a marvellous event to recognise the hard work, dedication and skill of the local NHS. The NHS is to an American as miraculous as meeting the tooth fairy. All of you in the NHS and who work across your hospitals do a fantastic job. I had a great evening, it was fun. The award winners are well deserved and should be proud.”

Trust Chairman, John Jesky, said: “It is important to recognise and thank the extraordinary efforts and good work of teams and individuals across the Trust over the past year. Our annual Staff Awards provide the opportunity for us to celebrate the excellent work which takes place by staff in our hospitals and across all of our services including those who provide services in the community and in integrated teams with our partner agencies. The commitment, care, compassion and dedication of all those individuals who have won either at divisional level or an overall award never ceases to impress me as we all strive to provide the very best care for our patients on every occasion.”

Now in its fourth year, the Staff Awards dinner is again supported by a number of sponsors including: Vinci Construction UK Ltd; NG Bailey; Weightmans; Mitie; Philips; G2 Speech; CSC and G4S.