WESTERN Trust staff, including nurses from Derry were celebrated at a special recognition awards ceremony yesterday.
The annual ceremony, held in Omagh, recognised the huge contribution staff make to the delivery of health and care services in the western area.
The eighth annual Western Trust Staff Recognition Awards were hosted by the Acting Chairman of the Western Trust, Niall Birthistle and Chief Executive, Elaine Way.
Special guest at the ceremony, Health Minister Michelle O’Neill, presented the awards and paid tribute to the vital role played by health and social care staff in the West.
She said: “I am proud of our health and social care staff. In the six months since I took on the role of Health Minister, I have visited many health and social care settings and have been seen at first hand the dedication and commitment of our exceptional health and social care staff, who go the extra mile to look after a patients or help colleagues or develop better ways of working.
“This speaks volumes about the sort of people who work in our health and social care at all levels.
“I have set out my vision to transform the current health and social care system.
“But ‘Delivering Together’ means exactly what it says; we all have a part to play and I am determined that staff will have the opportunity to give their views, and to help shape, the future of our services. I know you will take up that challenge.”
There were seven award categories in total, including a best support worker award, an award for the best team, an improving patient and client services award and the coveted overall Chairman’s award. Individuals and teams were nominated by their colleagues.
They were recognised for being innovative and for their exceptional contribution to improving services across health and social care services in the west.
Western Trust Acting Chairman, Niall Birthistle, congratulated all the award winners.
He said: “It great to come together and recognise our fantastic staff at the annual awards celebrations. As we all know, staff are the Trust’s greatest asset and many of them often go beyond what is expected of them, sometimes in challenging and difficult circumstances.
“The Staff Recognition Awards reflect our core values. They are a great opportunity to acknowledge our staff and how they play an integral role in the delivery of high quality patient-centred services to our clients and patients.
“The winners and those highly commended represent all that is good about health and social care in this area.
“From inspirational leaders to those who go the extra mile working quietly behind the scenes – we all know of someone who deserves our special thanks.
“This is a day to be exceptionally proud of the calibre of people that we have working for our Trust and to celebrate the real difference they make to the lives of others.”
Elaine Way, Chief Executive of the Western Trust said: “Our staff are at the heart of everything we do.
“We often hear from our patients and their families about the difference that an amazing consultant, nurse, therapist or receptionist can make to the overall experience. And we know too that it’s when we work in great teams that we’re all at our best.
“The Western Trust’s Staff Recognition Awards are an opportunity to publicly recognise some of the outstanding individuals and teams who work at the Trust.”
Acting Chairman thanked the Health Minister and sponsors McLaughlin and Harvey Ltd for attending the ceremony and helping make this a very special day for all those staff who were shortlisted and those who won an award.
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