BRIDGEWATER Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has held its annual 'Thank You' awards, recognising the hard work of essential workers in the trust.

The awards recognised the efforts of all staff members across the trust, including nurses, dentists, clinical support workers, and back-office teams.

Recognising efforts of staff both throughout the Covid pandemic, and since lockdowns were lifted.

Warrington Guardian: Essential workers were celebrated in style at this year's 'Thank You' awardsEssential workers were celebrated in style at this year's 'Thank You' awards (Image: Bridgewater NHS Foundation Trust)

The full list of winners is as follows:

Clinical Employee of the Year

Helen Wakefield - Widnes Urgent Treatment Centre Clinical Lead

Non-Clinical Employee of the Year

Joint winners: Chris Boydell – IT Support Officer and Katie Whitehead – IT Asset and Configuration Officer

Clinical Team of the Year

Wheelchair and Specialist Seating Service

Non-Clinical Team of the Year

Communications and Engagement Team

Innovation and Excellence Award

Jilly Wallis – Allied Health Professional Lead

Partnership and Collaboration Award

Padgate House and Infection, Prevention and Control Team

Kindness and Compassion Award

Joint winners: Rebecca Emery – Clinical Specialist for Paediatric Physiotherapy and Jackie Lawson – Therapy Assistant

Chair’s Award

Dental Epidemiology

The event was also an opportunity for the trust to recognise the lengthy service of some members of staff - in total, around 200 Bridgewater colleagues received an NHS long service certificate this year of which about 50 had them handed personally on the day of the event.

Speaking about the celebration, Colin Scales, Bridgewater Chief Executive said: "Our 2022 event was also a chance for us to recognise those colleagues that have given at least 25 years’ service to the NHS.

"We cannot shy away from the challenges the health service faces around recruitment, so recognising NHS long service is hugely important.

"We thank these colleagues, each of which have given at least a quarter of a century, for their amazing commitment in such a rewarding career.”