Former Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) Governor and Patient Research Advisor, Bill Greenwood OBE, has had his contribution to health and care research posthumously recognised at a coveted regional awards ceremony.
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Greater Manchester Clinical Research Network (CRN) presented Bill’s widow, Ann, and son, Richard, with the ‘Special Award for Relevant Research’ at their Annual Health and Care Research Awards ceremony. The award which recognised how Bill demonstrated one of the Greater Manchester Clinical Research Network’s three core values, ‘Relevant Research’, is described as a ‘commitment to fully understanding the care needs of our local population and finding the best ways to make a difference to citizens and communities through research’.
Bill was a WWL Governor for 10 years between 2008-2018 and continued to work with the WWL Patient Research Advisory Group until he sadly passed away in June of this year. This prompted a group of WWL researchers to look at a way to get Bill’s contribution to the field fittingly recognised.
WWL’s Head of Research, Alison Robinson, said: “Bill’s desire to support healthcare in the Wigan Borough and his strong support for continuous improvement through research deserves to be given this level of recognition. When the suggestion from a number of our researchers and people who had worked alongside Bill for many years came through to put his name forward for this award, it made complete sense and we’re all delighted for his family.”
Bill’s widow, Ann, was extremely proud to receive the posthumous award on Bill’s behalf, saying: “We were overwhelmed when Bill’s name was read out to receive one of the special awards, and we’re so very proud to accept it on his behalf. I’d like to say a big thank you for inviting my son Richard and I to the wonderful awards evening.
“Bill always enjoyed being involved with WWL. He was one of the first Governors appointed and the whole team worked very hard to attain Foundation Trust status.
“As a family, we are so proud of Bill’s achievements, and very grateful to the organisers of the awards, and to the staff at WWL for holding Bill’s contributions in such high regard.”
Speaking about Bill’s contribution to research at WWL, and his time as a WWL Governor, WWL Chair, Mark Jones added: “Bill’s passion for accessible health care for all, and his committed approach to supporting research at WWL provided a tremendous contribution to our Trust. During his time as a Governor, Bill was incredibly supportive of helping to grow the future of WWL and the future of the Wigan Borough’s health and care workforce.
“All at WWL were sad to learn of Bill’s passing earlier in the year, but in the same breath, we are all delighted to learn the news of this recognition for Bill, in what must be a truly proud moment for his family.”
Alongside Bill’s award, Professor Nirmal Kumar, Consultant Head and Neck Surgeon at WWL, was a runner-up in the Transforming Research Delivery category. The work of Senior Clinical Research Nurse, Tracey Taylor and Clinical Research Nurse, Claire Williams was also recognised by submissions from WWL in the build-up to the awards ceremony, as well as the WWL Research Team’s nomination by the Clinical Research Network Industry Team for their new Clinical Research Hub in Ashton-in-Makerfield.
You can find out more about research and the Patient Research Advisory Group at WWL on the WWL website here.