Hospital heroes from Worthing and Southlands honoured

It was the fourth such awards ceremony held by Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the two hospitals, as well as St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester, and the biggest yet, with a record 180 nominations received.

Among the winners and runners-up were staff working in every area of Worthing, Southlands and St Richard’s hospitals – frontline nurses and doctors, healthcare assistants, housekeepers, IT managers and pharmacy staff, to name just a few.

One of the trust’s many dedicated volunteers was also among those were recognised.

There were ten award categories, including eight intended to reward staff who support the trust’s vision, ‘We Care’.

In addition, there was the overall employee of the year award, and the chairman’s award.

Trust chief executive Marianne Griffiths said: “Most of the people receiving these awards do utterly amazing things every day, but the idea that they should get an award would not occur to them for a second. Time and again I hear our nominees say that they are ‘just doing their job’, but these awards recognise those people who do so much more than can be expected of them, and who deliver something exceptional as if it is the most normal thing in the world. I love being involved in the awards because they recognise people who save lives, who care for people when they are vulnerable, and who are prepared to do whatever they can to support their colleagues – in short, the best of the NHS.”

Each winner received a glass STAR award, a framed certificate, a bottle of champagne and £100 to use within their department.

Individual winners also received an extra day’s leave. The event was funded by the Love Your Hospital charity.

• For the full list of winners from Worthing and Southlands hospitals, see this week’s Herald and the Littlehampton Gazette, on sale today