Nurses, Midwives and Operating Department Practitioners (ODP) were thanked and recognised for their hard work at a special event held in their honour by Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The inaugural International Day of the Midwife, Nurse and ODP Event was held at the Edge, Wigan on Friday 10th May to celebrate the dedication provided by each of the staff groups, their contribution to society, and their professions.
As well as presentations from Paula Palmer Charlery from the Nursing & Midwifery Council, Gill Walton, CEO of the Royal College of Midwives, and Mike Donnellon, President of the College of ODPs, staff members also shared their stories about their careers and their journeys to becoming qualified practitioners.
Kevin Parker-Evans, WWL’s Interim Chief Nurse, said: “It was a magnificent event that everyone should be proud of.
“It has been great to have all the professions together in one room and it was truly inspiring to hear from such brilliant speakers; we really have celebrated our staff in true WWL style.”
Awards and certificates were handed out to individuals including:
- Operating Department Practitioner Going Above and Beyond: Merlin Lalu - Anaesthetic Department
Highly Commended: Ayesha Hussein, Royal Albert Edward Infirmary Theatres
- Nurse Going Above and Beyond: Andrea Holt - Specialist Community Public Health Nurse - School Nurse
Highly Commended: Helen Titu - Consultant Nurse Acute Cardiology
- Midwife Going Above and Beyond: Ashley Gwinnett - Fern Team (Enhanced Midwifery Community Team
Highly Commended: Danielle Johnson - Delivery Suite
- Internationally Educated Nurse of the Year: Constanciah Butayo - Cardiac Catheter Lab, Cardiology
Highly Commended: Mumthas Man, Emergency Department
- Learner of the Year: Athalia Ross - Student Midwife, Maternity Unit (pictured above left with Interim Chief Nurse, Kevin Parker-Evans)
Highly Commended: Neelesh Patel, Trainee Nurse Associate
- Leader of the Year: Ann Carey- Matron Child Health
- Karen Downs Innovation Award: Leanne Lee - Hospital at Home, Community Division
Highly Commended: Charlotte Blay – Medical Assessment Unit
- WWL Chief Nursing Office Lifetime Award: Allison Luxon, Deputy Chief Nurse (pictured above right with Interim Chief Nurse, Kevin Parker-Evans)
Certificates and fob watches were also presented to those Qualifying Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship top ups and Trainee Nurse Associates.
Into the evening, a multi-faith celebration service, led by the Chaplaincy Team and local faith leaders was held and further awards were handed out including:
- The Pauline Jones Nursing Leadership Award – Geri Little - Ward Leader, Surgical Admissions Lounge
- The Chief Nursing Officer of England Award – Jon Baggaley – Health Care Assistant, Emergency Department and Vickey Smith – Health Care Support Worker Clinical Educator
As part of the International Nurses Day celebrations, WWL’s Theatre Teams also created a cookbook of recipes that was given out at the event, highlighting the rich diversity across the teams.