Congratulations are in order for Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) trio, Mags Sanders, Rebecca Melling and Ellen Maxwell, who have been named Wigan Borough ‘Health Heroes’ at the first ever Best of Wigan Awards.
During a ceremony at the DW Stadium on Friday 2nd December, the colleagues from WWL’s Health Outreach and Inclusion Team were awarded the ‘Health Hero’ award for their outstanding support to vulnerable people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking after picking up the award, Health Outreach and Inclusion Worker, Rebecca Melling said: “We are so proud and it was such an overwhelming moment when we heard our names called out. It’s amazing to be recognised for the care we give to people, but what means the most is that we are doing right by our patients and providing them with exactly the support they need.”
Ellen Maxwell, Health Outreach and Inclusion Worker added: “I’m so happy to share this award with Mags and Rebecca, but also on behalf of the rest of the Health Outreach and Inclusion Team, because winning this award wouldn’t be possible without them, or without all our WWL colleagues who work in the community.”
Mags Sanders continued: “We are so honoured to win this award. Our patients are all vulnerable and knowing that we can make their lives better in some capacity makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
Rebecca, Ellen, Mags and colleagues across WWL’s community division continue to provide essential services to the people of Wigan Borough, not only to care for their immediate needs, but in preventing people from getting ill and needing hospital beds, a vital part of the Trust’s preparations to help tackle the capacity challenges thrown up during the winter months.
Congratulating the trio on their award, Rabina Tindale, Chief Nurse at WWL, said: “This is such welcome news, and we are absolutely delighted to see Ellen, Mags and Rebecca recognised in this way.
“All three of them are shining examples of compassionate care and there’s no doubt that the support they gave to vulnerable people in the Wigan Borough during the height of the pandemic was life-changing for so many. Alongside colleagues in our other community teams, they continue to make such a big difference every day.
“Teams like our Health Outreach and Inclusion Team are so important to WWL and to the patients we support. They work so hard to improve access to a variety of our healthcare services, which really helps with keeping people well and keeping them informed as to the best healthcare choices for their needs.
“These contributions go a long way to helping WWL meet the pressure put on our services during the winter months, helping to reduce hospital admissions so that colleagues working in our hospitals can provide care for patients who desperately need urgent and emergency care.”
If you would like to learn more about the services offered by the team, please visit the Health Outreach and Inclusion page on the WWL website.