PATIENTS and their families are being asked to nominate hospital staff for employee and team of the month awards.

Every month, Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust names a team and an employee who have gone above and beyond and this month’s winning team is no exception.

The ICU Memorial Service Team, led by staff nurse Helene Hazzard and junior sister Sophie Liu, has been holding an annual event for the relatives of patients who have sadly died on Warrington Hospital's intensive care ward for the past 10 years.

Helene said: “We invite the relatives of the patients who have died from December to December.

“During the year, me and Sophie have a lot of paperwork to do and we send out invitations in about February to let the relatives know that they are not forgotten and to let them know about the service.

“We also see if they want to put their name in the memorial book which is kept in a glass cabinet.

“A lot of people think that they are on their own and we want them to know that they are not forgotten when a loved one has died.

“A lot of people who don’t have any other relatives come and say it has made them realise they aren’t on their own and that it has given them closure as well.”

The team is completely voluntary and all the staff pitch in to bake cakes for the service which also includes performances from a school choir and a soloist.

The team was nominated by anaesthetist Dr Andy Higgs. He said: “I think this is almost unique in the intensive care community and the people that come really appreciate it.

“The feedback we get is phenomenal. The organisation that is needed is pretty detailed and it is part of the closure process for people and you can actually see that happening sometimes.”

The team and employee of the month are decided by a panel and the winners are entered into a completion to be crowned team or employee of the year.

Chief executive Mel Pickup said: “We have more than 4,000 members of staff here and although we have the annual of awards, only a handful of them are recognised there.

“But really it is down to every single person that works here that things keep moving and we want to recognise as many of these wonderful people as possible.”

To nominate an employee or team, visit whh.nhs/thankyou.