It’s been another tough week, but I am pleased to say we ended it in fine style last night with the Trust’s annual colleague recognition event, the Star Awards.
You’ll remember a few blogs ago I asked for views as to whether it should go ahead, as the unions representing both junior doctors and consultants announced they would take industrial action in their ongoing dispute with the Government over pay.
I was pleased most people felt it should still be held and that both colleagues and patients valued the Star Awards as a key date in the Trust diary where we recognise people individually and in teams, as well as celebrating everything we collectively achieve.
The strikes did go ahead on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and the pressure on everyone in the Trust was immense as you might imagine. Thank you to everyone who stepped in, stayed on or worked extra hours or shifts to cover as many gaps as possible – and especially those junior doctors and consultants who were in as normal.
We continue to respect the right of people to take industrial action and acknowledge the difficult decision this creates for colleagues each and every time dates are announced, whilst equally and openly recognising the unavoidable disruption it causes to services and the treatment patients need.
I have to say it is getting more and more difficult to manage, including covering gaps in rotas and continuing with scheduled care. And, with over one million elective procedures and appointments cancelled across the NHS this week as a result of the strike, it would be remiss of me not to also hope a resolution will be reached soon.
By the time we pressed go on the Star Awards last night, all colleagues were back and amid a lot of tired faces I think a celebration of the past year and a reminder of why we all come to work was exactly what was required.
These things always are, by their very nature, something of a tonic for the soul but I think even the most hardened of colleagues – those who say they’re ‘just doing their job’ and ‘don’t need a thank you’ – recognised it was a night we needed, where our proverbial ‘cups’ were heartily refilled.
Stories of kindness, caring, compassion and resilience in the most difficult circumstances were on display from the very first moment. I don’t mind sharing that I felt emotional from the opening credits, right up to the moving tributes to our Lifetime Achievement winner and ELHT legend Lesley Gaw at the end. The patient experience shared as part of the Public Health Hero Award and the acceptance speeches for all the awards absolutely got me too. It was really powerful to watch and be a part of.
Since the pandemic, when social distancing restrictions were in place, we have held our awards virtually, with myself and the Executive Team broadcasting live from a studio and presenting to winners over the familiar medium of Zoom.
I think initially we felt this was a sub-standard, second rate, way of doing things – but in all honesty there are some real benefits to doing it like this.
I personally loved seeing colleagues at home or work celebrating in their own way with their friends and families. We had teams in offices, families in matching t-shirts, house parties with balloons and bunting and whole families crammed together on the couch waiting for the winner to be announced.
We had about 2,000 people watching live, and if you haven’t seen it yet – please catch up at any time here.
I find seeing the reactions on the 
faces of those who realise they have won so touching, the affectionate celebrations on the screens brilliant to watch and the equal amounts of happy tears and pure joy quite life affirming in so many ways. I really believe the shared experience brings us so close together, even though in reality we’re miles apart.
There were too many highlights to mention – and everyone will have a different favourite moment I am sure, but extra congratulations to Joanne Cranham, who was nominated three times and walked away with two awards over three bottles of prosecco – that’s impressive in so many ways!
I also want to thank Julie Clift, our Unsung Hero winner, who joined us all the way from Canada with her ‘grand dog’ Benny.
And I’ve already mentioned the incredible Lesley Gaw, but if you haven’t see the video of why she won – with such genuine love and admiration from colleagues from across the Trust – it’s well worth a watch but do have a tissue ready I would suggest. You can view it here.
I’m going to list all of the winners again in a moment – because I don’t think we can celebrate them enough – but here I want to mention two people in particular.
The first is our chaplain and counsellor Dr David Anderson, who was the driving force behind a new category, Jasper’s Colleague Kindness Award, shaped in remembrance of his beloved therapy dog who died earlier this year. I thought the way David spoke about Jasper and the criteria for the award was so brave and moving. He was so natural chatting to the winner, Nicola May, and it reminded me why he is so brilliant in his role. Thank you David for taking part last night.
The second person to mention is somebody who was nominated and shortlisted as a finalist in the People’s Health Hero Award last night but, due to a mistake, didn’t appear on screen and therefore wasn’t recognised as we would have wished.
Victoria Holden was nominated for going above and beyond in her role as a much-loved Health Care Assistant on C8 at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, including making well packs and gifts for patients in her own time which include bereavement bags to help create lasting memories for relatives in their final moments with loved ones. Her colleagues say this is just one of a myriad of ways in which Victoria plays a pivotal role in the team, albeit as with any ‘hero’ she doesn’t completely recognise the impact she has.
You might have seen the nomination as part of the build up to the event but, unfortunately, when the category was announced, Victoria’s name wasn’t included and she wasn’t shown on screen. I’m so sorry this happened and please know we were devastated when we realised.
For many colleagues, the Star Awards aren’t about winning or walking away with a certificate or a trophy but simply being recognised for what they do and being among the group of people held up as ‘the best of the best’.
I know being named and shown on screen is validation that everything we do does matter and it does count – especially in these very tough times – and as one of Victoria’s colleagues rightly said ‘to believe that, just for one night’.
I will end by sharing again the winners of the Star Awards 2023 and offering our deepest gratitude for everything they are doing across the Trust and for East Lancashire people as a whole:
· Bilal Patel (Leader of the Year)
· Joanne Cranham (Safe, Personal and Effective Care Champion)
· The Critical Care Allied Health Professional and Major Trauma Rehab Co-ordinator Team (Clinical Team of the Year)
· Sophie Butterworth (Rising Star)
· Dilshad Yakub (Wellbeing, Inclusion and Belonging Champion)
· Gill Phillips and Dhanya Santhosh (SPE+ Improvement Champion)
· Marion Willcocks (Colleague of the Year)
· Andy and Maxine Whittaker (Volunteers of the Year)
· Head and Neck Team (People’s Health Hero)
· ED Supply Chain and Logistics Team (Non-Clinical Team of the Year)
· Dr Deepak Nama (Employee of the Year)
· Joanne Cranham and Catherine Gill (Community Engagement and Partnerships Award)
· Nicola May (Jasper’s Colleague Kindness Award)
· Julie Clift (Unsung Hero)
· Lesley Gaw (Chairman’s Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award)
In accepting their awards all our winners recognised the support they receive from others, both at work and at home, and so I will end by saying, to every single person who works directly for or with the Trust: everything you do does matter. It does count. It is recognised and, please, believe it. We’re so very lucky to have you in our team.
Martin