DEVOTED and hardworking hospital employees have been hailed as ‘stars’ for their ‘outstanding’ care.

Staff at Royal Blackburn and Burnley General hospitals have been honoured by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust’s STAR annual awards ceremony.

The 15 winners at the special event on Friday were selected from more than 400 staff members, nominated both by staff and patients.

Kevin McGee, Trust chief executive who hosted the evening, said: “This is a special evening that highlights the dedication and graft that our staff put in to the trust.

“Well done to all of the winning and nominated staff, who work tirelessly to provide a valuable and outstanding service to patients, visitors and fellow co-workers.

“Our members of staff have the chance to celebrate among themselves, enjoy their evening and even dig out their dancing shoes.”

Shortlisted candidates underwent an interview process by an external panel of patient groups, commissioners and training organisations.

Winners were presented with the awards at a ceremony at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel in Clayton-le-Moors.

Chris Barnes, physiotherapist at Ribble Valley Community Integrated Care Team won the Compassionate Care Award.

He said: “I am honoured to win this.

“Any opportunity you get to enrich someone’s life, then do it, not for targets or statistics, but because it’s the right thing to do.”

Kanwa Ekwegh, who won the award for the Rising Star, said: “I am only here because I’m standing on the shoulders of giants.

“I work with wonderful people in medicine for older people.

“Thank you very much.”

Role Model of the Year went to matron Tina Webb who said: “I work with a fantastic team and we are passionate about what we do in child health

“It’s a privilege to be nominated and win this.

“I love my job.”

Fiona Hamer, clinical director at Burnley General Hospital, won the Unsung Hero Award, while Wilf Pye, laundry assistant at Royal Blackburn Hospital walked away with the Employee of the Year Award.

Other winners included Volunteer of the Year, nutritionist Zac Rayson, Mohamad and Yousuf who won the Outstanding Achievement Award, and Shahid Islam and team who won the Quality, Innovation and Research Award.

John Jackson, porter and bereavement champion, who was crowned as Non-Clinical Worker of the Year, said: “It is an honour and privilege to win this award.

“It feels like a dream but dreams do sometimes come true.”

The Consort Best Managed Environment Award went to the Physiotherapy Department at Royal Blackburn Hospital, while Clinical Worker of the Year went to clinical nurse specialist Sharon Frayne at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Natalie Brockie was presented with the Leadership Award, while the SAS Divisional Support Team won Non-Clinical Team of the Year and Ward B4 Nursing Team from Royal Blackburn Hospital were presented with Clinical Team of the Year.

The Ellie Award, nominated by patients and the public, was presented to the Clayton District Nursing Team, made up of Andrea Brandwood, Liz Heap, Debbie Rowan and others.

A spokeswoman for the team said: “It’s an honour, it’s massive.

“We don’t really know just what an impact we have and it’s lovely to know that we did a good job and made a massive difference to our patient and their family.”

The team was nominated by a patient for their support of the whole family from her husband’s diagnosis with terminal cancer to his final weeks and beyond.

The patient’s daughter said: “They were there when we needed them.

“They still take care of us now and don’t stop.”and hardworking hospital employees have been hailed as 'stars' for their 'outstanding' care.

Staff at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General hospitals have been honoured by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust's annual awards ceremony.

The 15 winners at the special event on Friday were selected from more than 400 staff members, nominated both by staff and patients.

Kevin McGee, Trust chief executive who hosted the evening, said: “This is a special evening that highlights the dedication and graft that our staff put in to the trust.

"Well done to all of the winning and nominated staff, who work tirelessly to provide a valuable and outstanding service to patients, visitors and fellow co-workers.

"Our members of staff have the chance to celebrate among themselves, enjoy their evening and even dig out their dancing shoes."

Shortlisted candidates underwent an interview process by an external panel of patient groups, commissioners and training organisations.

Winners were presented with the awards at a ceremony at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel in Clayton-le-Moors.

Chris Barnes, physiotherapist at Ribble Valley Community Integrated Care Team won the Compassionate Care Award.

He said: "I am honoured to win this.

"Any opportunity you get to enrich someone's life, then do it, not for targets or statistics, but because it's the right thing to do."

Kanwa Ekwegh, who won the award for the Rising Star, said: "I am only here because I'm standing on the shoulders of giants.

"I work with wonderful people in medicine for older people.

"Thank you very much."

Role Model of the Year went to matron Tina Webb who said: "I work with a fantastic team and we are passionate about what we do in child health

"It's a privilege to be nominated and win this.

"I love my job."

Fiona Hamer, clinical director at Burnley General Hospital, won the Unsung Hero Award, while Wilf Pye, laundry assistant at Royal Blackburn Hospital walked away with the Employee of the Year Award.

Other winners included Volunteer of the Year, nutritionist Zac Rayson, Mohamad and Yousuf who won the Outstanding Achievement Award, and Shahid Islam and team who won the Quality, Innovation and Research Award.

John Jackson, porter and bereavement champion, who was crowned as Non-Clinical Worker of the Year, said: "It is an honour and privilege to win this award.

"It feels like a dream but dreams do sometimes come true."

The Consort Best Managed Environment Award went to the Physiotherapy Department at Royal Blackburn Hospital, while Clinical Worker of the Year went to clinical nurse specialist Sharon Frayne at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Natalie Brockie was presented with the Leadership Award, while the SAS Divisional Support Team won Non-Clinical Team of the Year and Ward B4 Nursing Team from Royal Blackburn Hospital were presented with Clinical Team of the Year.

The Ellie Award, nominated by patients and the public, was presented to the Clayton District Nursing Team, made up of Andrea Brandwood, Liz Heap, Debbie Rowan and others.

A spokeswoman for the team said: "It's an honour, it's massive.

"We don't really know just what an impact we have and it's lovely to know that we did a good job and made a massive difference to our patient and their family."

The team was nominated by a patient for their support of the whole family from her husband's diagnosis with terminal cancer to his final weeks and beyond.

The patient's daughter said: "They were there when we needed them.

"They still take care of us now and don't stop."