FEATURE Unsung Heroes Our Health Heroes awards announced the National Health Award Winners at an
inaugural ceremony in London at the end of last year to celebrate healthcare workers’ endless dedication to the profession. Here we find out more.
An ambulance worker from Berwick and a day centre receptionist from Belfast were the first ever winners of the Our Health Heroes awards, set up to celebrate the work of the thousands of support staff who keep the NHS running behind the scenes.
Iain Scott and Elizabeth Cameron received their awards at a special ceremony in November hosted by Skills for Health, the National Skills Academy for Health and UNISON.
Iain Scott from Berwick Ambulance Station won the national award for Clinical Support Worker of the Year, and Elizabeth Cameron from Fortwilliam Day Centre took home the top honour in the Operational Services Support Worker of the Year category.
The Our Health Heroes awards are the culmination of a campaign by the three organisations to celebrate the 800,000 individuals who make up the healthcare support workforce across the UK.
More than 500 nominations were whittled down to a total of 24 regional winners, two from each of UNISON’s 12 regions. A public vote then decided the national winners.
John Rogers, Chief Executive, Skills for Health, said: “The dedicated individuals in our healthcare support workforce truly are the sector’s unsung heroes. They keep the NHS running from behind the scenes, and their hard work and commitment is integral to making sure patients receive the very
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best care possible. We are very proud at Skills for Health to be a leading voice in celebrating their contribution and value to the sector.”
A special honorary award was also presented in memory of Grant Callachan, a physiotherapy support worker at Arbroath Infirmary in Scotland, who sadly passed away earlier this year.
Iain Scott was nominated by his colleagues for always putting them and his patients first. From administration to stock control and the station social fund, Iain spends all his spare time on station doing as much as he can for colleagues.
Speaking about the award Iain said: “I’m honoured to have won the national award, I never thought it was going to be me. I’m really pleased to have won but I think everyone here today would have deserved it just as much as me; so my heart goes out to each and every one of them as well.”
Elizabeth Cameron has been the welcoming face of the Fortwilliam Day Centre since it opened 30 years ago, and was recognised for going over and above what is expected of her daily role. Elizabeth commented: “I’m so
shocked that I’ve won. When I was told I’d even been nominated I thought it was a joke and that there must be someone out there that deserves it more than me. It’s an honour and I do really love my job; I wouldn’t have been doing it for so long if I didn’t!”
Candace Miller, Director, National Skills Academy for Health, said: “The National Skills Academy for Health is dedicated to ensuring healthcare support staff can access the training they need to be effective at the job they love. We were overwhelmed by the fantastic response to this campaign that we created to give the invaluable individuals in our healthcare support workforce the recognition they deserve.”
Christina McAnea, UNISON Head of Health, said: "Without support staff like porters, cleaners and administrative staff, the NHS would very quickly grind to a halt. Despite the huge squeeze in resources, this dedicated band of employees works tirelessly, under often incredible pressures, making sure equipment and people are in the right places, that wards are clean, and patients' medical records are kept up to date.
“But while the public, quite rightly, often sings the praises of the nurses, midwives and doctors in the NHS, the many support staff, whose work is largely invisible, tend to be ignored. That's why these awards are so important.”
www.skillsforhealth.org.uk www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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