Newark Hospital's main reception team honoured at Sherwood Forest Hospital's annual Excellence Awards
The work of staff and volunteers at a hospital trust was recognised at its annual Excellence Awards.
The winners were announced in a virtual ceremony hosted by Sherwood Forest Hospital NHS Foundation.
A total of 18 awards were handed out, including categories such as rising star, multidisciplinary team of the year and volunteer of the year.
The trust relies on its volunteers to assist in keeping services running smoothly, and recognises them through the volunteer of the year award, sponsored by the Newark Advertiser.
This year the award was presented to the Newark Main Reception Team, which supports services at Newark Hospital.
“The Newark Reception Team provide an outstanding service not only for our patients but also colleagues,” said David Ainsworth, the trust’s director of strategy and partnerships.
“They are always available and more than happy to go the extra mile to help out.
“Newark Hospital owes so much to these volunteers, and I couldn't be happier that they have won this award."
One of the volunteers, Charles Brown said: "It's the camaraderie and the friendship that means so much.
"We all get job satisfaction from what we do.
"There's always a curve ball in the mix or a problem to solve, but we always get there.
"It's nice to receive the thanks.
"It's a great hospital to work at with a great management team."
Another, Liz Smith said: "It's always a pleasure to come to work and help out as part of the family.
"I enjoy it, and meeting people.
The volunteers work in three shifts, usually one afternoon a week.
The trust has a team of 380 volunteers that dedicate around 920 hours of their personal time to the trust each week.
Volunteers perform a variety of 26 roles, including helping patients find their way around the hospital, provide ward or clinic support or work in refreshment areas.
Tracey Brassington, community involvement manager at Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust, said: “I am delighted that the Newark Hospital main reception volunteers have won this award,
“They have provided such fantastic support to our patients, visitors and staff throughout a difficult couple of years, providing a warm welcome to the hospital whilst ensuring compliance with the Trust facemask policy. During restricted visiting periods, the volunteers have also supported the Family Liaison Service by delivering patient property to wards and passing on messages to patients from loved ones.
“In addition to the extra responsibilities presented by the pandemic, the volunteers have continued to provide a way finding service, handled car parking enquiries, issued hearing aid batteries, booked taxis and used their excellent interpersonal skills to generally enhance the patient and visitor experience.”
The full list of winners were: Multidisciplinary Team of the Year Award: Electronic Prescribing and Medicine Administration Team; Most Improved Team Award: Diabetes Specialist Nursing Team; Chris McFarlane Award for Training and Development: Charikleia Kalogeri; Rising Star Award: Sana Awan; Team of the Year Award: Finance; Individual of the Year: Pauline Hurt and Vanessa Bramley (dual nomination) Nursery, Midwifery & AHP Team: Ward 14 Nursery, Midwifery & AHP Individual: Louise Heath; Doctor, Consultant Team: Acute medicine; Doctor, Consultant Individual: Will Dudill; Specialist Healthcare Team: Cancer Information & Support Team; Specialist Healthcare Individual: Sana Awan; Volunteer of the Year: Newark Main Reception Team; Fundraiser of the Year: Lisa Thompson; External Partner of the Year: Andrew Cropley, Principal at West Notts College; CARE Award: Ward 43 - Elective Orthopaedics (previously ward 21); The chairman’s Award: Sherwood Community Unit; The People's Award sponsored by The Chad: The Midwifery Team.