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Two hospital Healthcare Assistants have received prestigious national NHS awards for their dedication and commitment to patient care.

Kate Johnstone and Caroline Berry have each been presented with a coveted Chief Nursing Officer Healthcare Support Worker Excellence Award, following a rigorous judging process after being nominated by colleagues on their respective wards at Peterborough City Hospital.

The awards, introduced by former Chief Nurse for England Dame Ruth May, recognises the contributions of healthcare support workers. Kate and Caroline successfully met the criteria for the awards, of which only a handful are presented across at NHS Trusts in England each quarter. 

Around one in three of those nominated go on to receive an award. 

Presenting Kate and Caroline with their certificate, alongside Trust managers and colleagues, Rachel Hearn, Clinical Quality Director NHS England and Annelies Franklin, Workforce Programme Manager NHS England. 

Kate – who is also shortlisted for a North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust Outstanding Achievement Award 2024 – was nominated for her implementation of several patient-focused initiatives.

These have included the introduction of social dining for dementia and delirium patients, creating an HCA New Starter handbook and creating a series of ‘My Patient’ information laminate cards for colleagues to attach to their ID badge.

Meanwhile, Caroline– who has worked in the Trust for over 25 years – was nominated for the work she does in mentoring new starters, being the ward A10 link for dementia, moving and handling and fire champion, among many other things. 

Rachel Hearn, Clinical Quality Director NHS England said: “We need people like Kate and Caroline in the NHS, and it is important that not only are they recognised for the incredible work they do, but that they have a platform to share their knowledge.”

And to ensure that their voices are heard, Kate and Caroline have been invited to attend a Regional CPD Forum in Cambridge, alongside other healthcare professionals, next month.

Congratulating Kate and Caroline on their awards, Trust Chief Nurse Jo Bennis said: “You should both be very proud of yourselves. You are making a huge impact on the lives of patients and your colleagues and to be able to celebrate this through these awards is a great achievement.” 

 

Pic cap: Congratulations to North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust Healthcare Assistants Kate Johnstone and Caroline Berry who have been awarded a prestigious National HCSW Award, presented by Rachel Hearn, Clinical Quality Director NHS England (left) and Annelies Franklin, Workforce Programme Manager NHS England with Trust Chief Nurse, Jo Bennis and with divisional colleagues.