The Only National Awards For Non-Medical / Non-Clinical NHS Staff & Volunteers

Nomination

Award Category:

Volunteer of the year

Individual or Team Nomination?

Individual

Nominators Answer

Nominee's story :

Ann is an outstanding volunteer and thanks to her exceptional leadership the panel is the only such group to win the late Queen's Award. Despite significant incapacity, Ann has had a very successful professional life and has extensive involvement in several voluntary areas. This wealth of experience has been invaluable for her leadership of the Patient Panel. We have adopted a holistic approach for the well being of patients, so it is not merely about treatment but also about the hospital environment, food, staff morale and feedback from fellow patients. Ann is courteous empathetic and a creative thinker. She is passionate about all patients but particularly so for all those with disabilities whether mobility related or sensory. With new hospital structures she is the first to champion wheelchair access and hearing loops .However when appropriate she has a determined core and will challenge the establishment over recurring shortcomings, She is the driving force behind our annual report. We are not a corporate group but the report is always highly professional, creative and a fitting record of the many activities the panel complete annually. Ann organises various events throughout the year such as celebratory tea parties for patients and staff which are always met with much delight. For some patients such an event is the highlight of a lengthy and lonely stay at the hospital. She recognises the need for motivated staff and to improve their morale Ann is a frequent donator of prestigious lunches for excellent individuals and creative cakes for teams who go above and beyond for patients. In recent years Ann has encouraged us to spread our wings beyond the confines of the hospital so some of us are speaking at national conferences and engaging with the CQC about best practice within local hospitals. A recent initiative is to take our services directly to the public by an informal meeting in the town centre with local people. Such was the success of this venture, that it will be repeated regularly and the Chair and Chief nurse have requested attendance alongside us which is probably unprecedented nationally. Ann also hosted a recent meeting with the local MP who is a frequent patient at the hospital. He was delighted to congratulate Ann on her remarkable achievement these last ten years and offered to become an informal advocate for patients by writing to the CEO of the hospital in support of Ann's concerns about patient care. No doubt Ann's success is due to her great skill as a listener and advocator. No suggestion from our panel goes unheard and she embraces the input of her highly supportive team to achieve some remarkable outcomes. In recent years there has been a tendency to label outstanding performers as a GOAT and Mohammed Ali, The Beatles and Novak Djokovic have all basked in that glory. I have no hesitation in citing Ann to join that prestigious group as she has achieved so much for local patients.