A MEMBER of staff at the Royal Blackburn Hospital has received an Employee of the Month award after she took life-saving action during a fire.

In March, a fire broke out in ward C14 and Bev Eaves, who was the clinical site manager at the time, managed to ensure all the patients were safely evacuated and that the area was secure.

Bev was nominated for the award by director of operations Gillian Simpson for showing excellent emergency management skills and she is ecstatic to have received such an accolade.

She said: “It’s very exciting to have received the employee of the month award for May. Everybody I work with is brilliant and so to have been picked out from all of those people is really humbling.”

As well as being commended for her actions by Lancashire Fire and Rescue, Ms Simpson admitted Bev was a shining example of what the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust stands for.

She said: “Bev is a real credit to the trust, her attitude is fantastic and she really does personify the trust’s values.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less from her and it’s not surprising to see how well she handled the situation – she’s a model employee with over 30 years’ experience in the NHS.”

Bev was presented with a certificate for her achievement by director of human resources and learning and organisational development, Kevin Moynes.

He expressed his delight at Bev’s example of putting patients first and said it is pleasing to see the trust giving the best care possible: “Bev has done a brilliant job helping our patients by making sure they were safe in what could have been a hazardous situation and is a shining example for us all on being a selfless employee,” he said Mr Moynes.

“It’s great to see trust staff being so patient focused and consciences to deliver the best care possible.”