
THE COMMITMENT of Borough health and social care staff to high quality end of life and palliative care was recognised at an awards ceremony on Friday (October 7th).
The event at Leigh Sports Village was held by the Wigan and Leigh Hospice Practice Development Team (PDT) which provides training and education in palliative and end of life care free of charge to health and social care professionals.
Some 17 awards were handed out in 14 categories on a night which recognised GPs, learning disability services, extra care services, nursing and residential homes, hospital staff and District Nurses, amongst others from across the Borough.
Nurse of the Year
Belong Atherton was the big winner on the night scooping three awards with Jemma Sharratt winning Nurse of the Year; Registered Nurse Paul Woodcock celebrating the Peer-nominated Award and Belong Atherton winning the Most Innovative Setting award.
Elmridge Court in Lowton took home two of the most prestigious awards of the night: Manager of the Year and Care Setting of the Year.
The annual event, which traditionally recognises the work of care settings such as residential and nursing homes, has been extended for the first time in the six years it has been running. Now all health and social care professionals in Wigan can be nominated and recognised for their contribution in improving the care they provide for residents, patients and service users.
Professional, compassionate, caring
Jenny Yates, Service Manager Age Well at Wigan Council presented the Peer-Nominated Award to Paul Woodcock. She said: “To be respected and appreciated by your fellow colleagues is not only a great honour, it is a true reflection of how you are seen by others as a professional, compassionate, caring person.
“The winner of this award is someone who inspires others and is a real champion for palliative and end of life care.”
Pauline Payne, Chair of trustees at Wigan and Leigh Hospice, presented the Care Setting of the Year Award to Elmridge Court. She said: “This setting has shown great collaboration with the hospice, embracing all the training opportunities available to them and demonstrating the impact of this education by implementing innovative ideas.
“All levels of staff have been consistently enthusiastic and shown high levels of compassion and empathy to their residents and those important to them.”
Learning Hub
Formerly known as the ‘Hospice in your Care Home Awards’ the name of the event has been changed this year to the ‘Wigan Borough Palliative and End of Life Care Learning Hub Awards’ as the PDT leads on this initiative which officially launched at the hospice on Wednesday, October 5th.
The team already provides education and training free of charge for almost 100 care settings in the Borough, with dedicated face to face sessions at the hospice hub, virtual sessions and in satellite hubs including at Pemberton Clinic and Standish Library.
Staff from the nursing homes all bought their own tickets priced at £15 each and the event raises some funds which go to the Hospice for patient care.
List of winners
- The winners were as follows:
Non-Clinical Staff Member of the Year
Ashton View Care Home in Ashton in Makerfield: Sarah Smith, Administrator - Dignity Champion
The Old Rectory in Standish: Premila Jingree, Manager
Ashwood Care in Leigh: Nicola Surridge / Karine Andrews - Health Care Assistant / Support Worker of the Year
Manchester Road Learning Disability setting in Astley: Eunice Osifo - Senior Carer / Lead of the Year
St George’s Nursing Home in Wigan: Kaye Priest - Nursing Assistant / Care Home Assistant Practitioner
Westwood Lodge Care Home in Wigan: Michelle Quinn - Nurse of the Year
Belong Atherton: Jemma Sharratt
Haighfield Care Home in Standish: Crina Bisog - Deputy Manager / Clinical Lead of the Year
Ashwood Residential Home in Ashton-in-Makerfield: Christopher Wilkinson - Peer Nominated
Belong Atherton: Paul Woodcock - Patient/Resident/Family Nominated
Norfolk House residential care in Wigan: Andreea Sfrejea, Manager
Ambleside Bank assisted living in Ince: Sam Woodward, Healthcare Assistant - Most Innovative Setting
Belong Atherton - Special Recognition
Dr Sukhavasi, Meadowview Surgery, Atherton - Committee Nominated Staff member or team
Wigan, Wrightington and Leigh NHS Complex Care Learning Disability Service - Manager of the Year
Elmridge Court in Lowton: Kim Jackson - Care Setting / Service of the Year
Elmridge Court in Lowton
Health and social care professionals across the Borough nominated their colleagues for the Peer Award. Families and patients voted for the ‘Family and Residents Award’ based on the number of nominations received by staff across the borough, with the exception of the Committee-nominated Award, which was decided by a Steering Group which includes team members from the Hospice Practice Development team and Wigan Council’s Market Oversight team.
Find out more about the Wigan Borough Palliative and End of Life Care Learning Hub.
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