Voting now open for local NHS staff award
Published: 15 March 2024
Members of the public are now able to vote for their winner of Torbay and South NHS Foundation Trust’s People’s Choice individual award.
Each year patients, carers and the public nominate individuals and teams for Torbay and South Devon’s annual People’s Choice award.
This award category is part of the organisation’s staff recognition award scheme; Our People Awards.
This year there will be two People’s Choice awards; one for individuals and one for teams. 45 individuals and 23 teams were nominated, with Nicola McMinn, Interim Chief Nurse, shortlisting the finalists.
The public vote is now live for people to decide the winner of the People’s Choice individual award.
The shortlisted finalists for the award are:
- Tessa Clark, acute oncology nurse practitioner, cancer support team
- Fay Martin, midwife
- Dr Freddie Sweeting, junior doctor
- Faye Drinkwater, eating disorder specialist
Tessa was nominated by a patient that was diagnosed with a brain tumour and was very anxious about radiotherapy. Tessa attended every radiotherapy session with her, including when she was on annual leave. The patient said “Tessa is the most wonderful nurse and I was so lucky to have her with me.”
Fay was called kind, reassuring and the most incredible support by a patient and her husband who she supported through pregnancies and sadly a miscarriage. Fay made them feel listened to, informed and provided a shoulder to cry on. Her nomination said “I don’t know how I would have coped without Fay, she has meant so much to me and my husband.”
Dr Freddie was nominated by a patient’s family for the support and care he gave to their father when he was admitted to Simpson ward after 48 hours in the emergency department. His nomination said, “Freddie made a significant difference to my dad’s life and made him feel valued. We will never be able to thank Freddie enough for all that he has done.”
Faye went above and beyond for a family she worked with for over two years. She made their daughter feel at ease and she was able to confide in Faye. Her nomination said, “she has made a difficult time bearable and she is one incredible person, we will be forever grateful.”
Nicola McMinn, Interim Chief Nurse at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust said: “The amazing things that our colleagues do every single day can’t be underestimated. These awards are a wonderful way to recognise hardworking staff for what they do so well. We were overwhelmed with the nominations we received for the People’s Choice award this year; all describing the incredible care and support of our people.
“I really enjoyed reading these powerful and at times emotional stories, and I would love to give them all an award. It was very difficult to shortlist but we have a really special final four. We would like to thank all who submitted a nomination this year and I would encourage everyone to read their amazing nomination stories and vote for your winner.”
Nevada Construction is a platinum sponsor for Torbay and South Devon’s people celebration event in May and is kindly sponsoring this award.
Nevada Construction director Bob Tranckle said: “Nevada Construction is honoured to be platinum sponsors for the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust’s Our People Awards 2024. Our partnership with Torbay Hospital is a source of great pride for us, and we are committed to supporting this celebration of its dedicated staff. Torbay Hospital not only marks a personal connection for us, being the workplace of our mother’s career and where our children were born, but it also holds an important role in our company’s values and in local community.”
The voting for the People’s Choice individual award is now open, and people can read the nominations in full and vote online.
Voting will close on 25 March 2024. The winners will be announced at Torbay and South Devon’s award celebration event in May.