NHS heroes awarded at Lothian health awards

AN inspirational team of NHS staff who go 'above and beyond' to help bereaved parents have been named as NHS Lothian's health heroes at a glittering awards ceremony.

The SANDS team at St John's Hospital, winners of this year's Health Hero award. Picture: contributed

Midwives Lynn Rose and Emma Campbell, and medical photographer Gill Thomson, who work at St John’s Hospital, picked up the gong at last night’s NHS Lothian Celebrating Success Awards, after being nominated for the honour by the bereavement charity SANDS Lothians.

Backed by the Evening News, the Health Hero award was one of ten accolades handed out at the glitzy bash at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange.

The dedicated trio were described as making “an incredible difference to patients at the worst of times” by SANDS Lothians chief executive Nicola Welsh.

Ms Welsh said: “They go above and beyond to deliver the best care they can at the saddest of times.

“Bereaved families need much guidance and support, and I believe the find this when they deliver at St John’s.”

Other unsung heroes honoured included nursery nurse Maureen Pearson, based at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, who was named Lynn Jackson Nurse of the Year for her efforts.

East Lothian Service for Integrated Care for the Elderly (ELSIE), based at Roodlands Hospital, scooped Team of the Year for helping to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and reducing delayed discharges

Joyce Ryan, ward clerkess at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital’s Orchard Clinic, won the Caring Champion award for her caring attitude and willingness to help patients.

Top bosses paid tribute to the dedication of NHS Lothian employees, at the ceremony hosted by Forth One presenter Arlene Stuart.

Tim Davison, NHS Lothian chief executive, said: “I am always amazed by our highly gifted, skilled and talented staff who put their heart and soul into the care they provide to their patients and go above and beyond their duties every day to deliver the very best patient care.

“The Celebrating Success Awards are a small, but important way of showing how much we appreciate our staff who work with dedication and commitment to provide the best possible patient care and support.

“I congratulate all of our finalists who deserve to be recognised for going the extra mile. As always it is an uplifting and rewarding experience.“

Evening News deputy editor Euan McGrory said: “There are thousands of heroes working in our hospitals, who do not always get the recognition that they deserve.

“These are the people who go the extra mile day in and day out to make an extraordinary difference to the lives of ordinary people.

“Congratulations to this year’s winners, they thoroughly deserve our thanks for their dedication and professionalism.”