‘I feel honoured to work with them’: Committed staff recognised at East Coast Community Healthcare awards

Clinical Educator Wayne Butler receives the award for Delivering Exceptional Care from Director of Human Resources Deborah French. Picture: Alan O'Neill (Image: CHPV Offshore Energy Media Services)

Community nurses from East Coast Community Healthcare who went the extra mile to ensure the highest quality care for their patients helped to win their team a major accolade at the organisation's annual staff awards ceremony.

Members of the Halesworth Community Nursing Service were awarded the title of Clinical Team of the Year at the event held in Norwich at Carrow Road's Norfolk Lounge.

They were recognised for a raft of actions including one nurse giving a patient some of her own bedding because the patient had nothing to put on a hospital bed that was delivered to their home. Another nurse contacted volunteer groups and charities in order to support a terminally ill patient who needed transport to get her to palliative day care and had no family or friends to help.

Senior physiotherapist Tanya Fryer (centre) receives an ECCH Champion award from Staff Directors Lisa Judge and Libby Goddard. Picture: Alan O'Neill (Image: CHPV Offshore Energy Media Services)

ECCH chief executive Jonathan Williams said: 'This team delivers an outstanding service and shows true commitment to their work, building strong relationships with patients and working together to make a success of their service.

'I'm so proud of them - and of all our staff – for consistently demonstrating a 'can do' attitude and providing the highest possible standards of care. Events like this highlight how many wonderfully skilled and dedicated staff we have. I feel honoured to work with them.'

ECCH provides community health services across Norfolk and Waveney. It is a social enterprise and reinvests its surplus resources to benefit the local community.

Ian Oakes (left) collects the Unsung Hero award from Company Secretary Peter Gosling. Picture: Alan O'Neill (Image: CHPV Offshore Energy Media Services)

Ten awards were presented at the event, with the finalists nominated by their colleagues and shortlisted by ECCH's shareholder council, which represents the 80 per cent of staff who have opted to have a share in the organisation and, therefore, a say in how it is run.

ECCH chairman Tony Osmanski said: 'With all the challenges that we face in the course of our work day to day it's really important to take time out to celebrate success.

'These awards are a chance to thank everyone for their ongoing commitment to providing excellent community healthcare. Whether they deliver frontline patient care, support those who do, or are part of the Executive Team, they are contributing to ECCH's growing reputation as a great community healthcare provider.'

Speech and Language Therapy administrator Donna Overton collects the Emerging Talent award from ECCH’s Evolve cultural change programme advocates Caz Harvey and Sharon Warner. Picture: Alan O'Neill (Image: CHPV Offshore Energy Media Services)

Other award winners

Children’s Speech and Language Therapist Julie Pass (left) is presented with the Making a Difference award by Director of Health Improvement and Children’s Services Julia Whiting. Picture: Alan O'Neill (Image: CHPV Offshore Energy Media Services)

The Innovation Award was presented to the Early Intervention Vehicle (EIV) Team for Great Yarmouth and Waveney, which keeps patients at home after a 999 call.

Clinical Educator Wayne Butler received the award for Delivering Exceptional Care in recognition of his work supporting ECCH's Infection Prevention and Control Team when they responded to a meningitis outbreak in Halesworth in May.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Continence Specialist Nurse Anne Weale for the passion and commitment she has shown in caring for patients with debilitating and often distressing conditions for nearly 40 years.

The Inspirational Leader Award was given to Healthy Child Programme Lead Kate Ryczanowski (centre) and Clinical Physiotherapy Lead Alice Bellamy (right) by Deputy Director of Quality Ali Jennings. Picture: Alan O'Neill (Image: CHPV Offshore Energy Media Services)

The Making a Difference award went to Children's Speech and Language Therapist Julie Pass for her support for families with children with communication difficulties.

The Inspirational Leader Award was given to Clinical Physiotherapy Lead Alice Bellamy and Healthy Child Programme Lead Kate Ryczanowski.

The Unsung Hero award went to Ian Oakes from ECCH's Information and Communications Technology team. The award for Emerging Talent was won by Speech and Language Therapy administrator Donna Overton.

ECCH Chief Executive Jonathan Williams (third from left) presents the Non-Clinical Team of the Year award to the Nelson Medical Practice. Picture: Alan O'Neill (Image: CHPV Offshore Energy Media Services)

The Non-Clinical Team of the Year award went to the Nelson Medical Practice in Great Yarmouth.

Senior physiotherapist Tanya Fryer and Patient Liaison Officer Wendy Moore were each awarded the title of ECCH Champion – which recognises staff whose commitment and professionalism make them ambassadors for the organisation.

Continence Specialist Nurse Anne Weale receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from ECCH Chair Tony Osmanski. Picture: Alan O'Neill (Image: CHPV Offshore Energy Media Services)

The Early Intervention Vehicle Team collect the Innovation Award from Finance Director Simon Bragg. Picture: Alan O'Neill (Image: CHPV Offshore Energy Media Services)