SIX unsung heroes of healthcare were honoured in the Bradford Teaching Hospitals Oscars last night.

The awards, marking the hard work and dedication of staff, were presented at a special ceremony at Bradford Royal Infirmary's Sovereign Lecture Theatre.

There were twice as many Oscars presented than in previous years and all six, who were nominated by colleagues, were given a £500 voucher, certificate and Oscar.

The awards were presented by Foundation Trust chief executive Professor Clive Kay and the chief executive of Sovereign Health Care, Russ Piper.

Professor Kay said: "This year we were overwhelmed by the excellent examples of staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

“It is encouraging to know that we have a highly skilled and dedicated workforce here in Bradford's hospitals whose hard work allows us to continue to deliver a high standard of care.

"These six members of staff are worthy winners of our hospital Oscars and I congratulate them all for their dedication to the NHS and the patients of Bradford."

Winners of the Healthcare Professionals of the Year awards were matron Sharon Barker and staff nurse Paul Fernandez; Support Services of the Year titles went to ward hospitality assistant Isaac Ahenkan, and health care assistant Sue Greenwood and senior sister Louise Croxall and lead dementia nurse Danielle Woods received the inaugural Governors’ Award.

Medicine matron Sharon Barker was nominated by acting head of nursing for medicine Fiona Smith, for helping provide leadership to several wards and unstintingly taking on extra work.

Respiratory staff nurse Paul Fernandez, who works on ward 23, was nominated by fire safety manager Harvey Stewart for helping a confused patient.

Mr Ahenkan, whose trundling tea trolley on Ward 30 brings a smile to its elderly care patients' faces, was nominated by assistant facilities manager Anthony King, who described Isaac as the utmost professional who knew every patient by name.

Staff nurse Lisa Fox nominated Sue Greenwood, from the surgical day care unit, for always putting the welfare of others first.

"She is a fantastic role model for everyone and is such a fabulous person," she said.

Accident and Emergency's senior sister Louise Croxall was nominated by staff governor Simon Kirk for helping the department achieve new turnaround targets for ambulances.

Lead dementia nurse Danielle Woods was nominated by public governor for Bradford North Mohammad Yaqoob for helping to develop a dementia strategy.

41 STAFF MEMBERS' LONG SERVICE IS RECOGNISED

LONG-service awards have been presented to 41 staff at Bradford Teaching Hospitals who have clocked up 1,230 years’ service in total.

Their dedication was also honoured at an ‘Oscars’ ceremony at the Sovereign Lecture Theatre at Bradford Royal Infirmary last night.

Nurses, midwives, support and administration staff were presented with certificates, an NHS badge and vouchers to commemorate their individual 30 years’ service to the NHS.

Foundation Trust chief executive Clive Kay, who handed over the awards, said: “I would like to say congratulations to all our staff who are being honoured tonight for their dedication, unstinting loyalty and efforts to the NHS here in Bradford.” 

Recipients included Suzanne Denwood, Leah Topham, Elizabeth Muff, Karen Waterman, Angela Brooksbank, Judith Hitch, Diane Wright, Samantha Barker, Margaret Hargreaves, Sarah Pollard, Yvonne Grant, Elaine Romain, Kathryn Kitchen, Claire Whitaker, Michael Fizio, Helen Lavery, Angela Brownjohn, Denise Booth, Teresa Seekins, Sally Armstrong, Collette Stainforth, Dawn Woodward, Alison Powell, Trudy Korner, Barbara Atkinson, Catherine Kay, David Hayward, Caroline Short, Elizabeth Watmuff, Adele Hartley-Spencer, Philipa Ellison, Penny Fleming, Juliet Kitching, Juliette Greenwood, Ian Moston, Jane Dennison, Sally Scales, Caroline Howard, Marion Bilney, Steve Cairns, Sharon Walker.