THE hardworking and dedicated team in Warrington Hospital's A&E department have won our Health and Wellbeing award 2019.

Many readers from across town got in touch to tell us how much they admired the staff working in this department and how they 'somehow managed to remain polite and pleasant with patients despite their huge workload'.

One nomination added: "This team is caring passionate and dedicated.

"They work so hard and as we all know the NHS has been very challenging of late and winter has been extremely hard but this team are always their to care for you and your loved ones every single day.

"I am so impressed by the team's resilience and teamwork and never knowing what we are going to face on a daily basis."

Lead nurse Alison Crawford who has worked in the department for three years said: "Our job is 24/7 but I feel privileged that the role involves being there for people in their time of need.

"We are delighted to win this award.

"We deal with adults and children and are continuing to educate the public more on what A&E is for.

"Our GP assessment unit and ambulatory care unit has helped ease the pressures we face when people can be treated elsewhere.

"We can see anything up to 230 to 300 patients each day and that is always increasing, especially with the expansion of the town."

Alison praised the work culture in the department and how this reflects a positive environment for patients.

She said: "There is a very good culture in our A&E, we are very much a family as we work so closely together.

"In the mornings we have staff huddles to make sure everyone is ready for the day, they are the most dedicated and focussed team of people.

"One of our nurses Dave Sharp suffered a stroke at the start of the year and the team raised almost £2,000 for him.

"It had a big impact on the staff who were devastated by it.

"A number of them have visited him at Padgate House; they go above and beyond for anyone.

"A couple of other colleagues have been quite poorly recently too and everyone has pulled together."

Alison also highlighted the amount of support the department receives from senior members of staff within the hospital.

She said: "Our chief nurse Kimberley Salmon-Jamieson has been a tower of support in the department, and our chief executive Mel Pickup is always coming down to see us."

THE FIVE NOMINEES >

  • Dr Lynne Teinert, Latchford Medical Centre
  • Warrington Hospital’s A&E team
  • Dr Mark Nichols, Lakeside Surgery
  • Cotswold Dental Care
  • Marie Taylor – Ward B19

 HIGHLY COMMENDED > Dr Lynne Teinert

A NUMBER of nominations were sent in for this popular doctor at Latchford Medical Centre with the majority praising the way she has helped patients with mental health problems.

Doctor Lynne Teinert has been a GP there for four years.

One nomination said: “There have been some appointments where I have come out and thought she has literally just saved my life.

“She has been proactive in ensuring that services are giving me what I need and fighting a battle, which at times I have not been able to fight myself.

“People will say ‘well she’s just doing her job’ but this is far more; it is clear how much she cares for her patients and I have always felt valued.”

Dr Teinert: “I am thrilled and overwhelmed to be highly commended.

“Working as a GP in Warrington allows me to get to know my patients and build relationships with them and their families.

“I love working at Latchford Medical Centre as a GP and receiving this nomination makes it all worthwhile.

“Thank you very much to everybody who has taken the time to send in their kind words.”