HEALTH heroes were honoured for their hard work and dedication during a glamorous awards evening.

More than 200 people gathered at the Bank House, in Bransford, near Worcester, to celebrate Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust’s 2013 Staff Achievement Awards. The event, supported by your Worcester News, saw some of the trust’s 4,500 staff honoured for their long service or outstanding achievements over the last 12 months.

One of the evening’s big winners was Kathy Hankins, from Worcester, who took home the Patients Choice trophy – unique among the awards on offer as all the nominations came directly from patients and service users. The 47-year-old community psychiatric nurse was nominated by one of her patients at Rowan House, in Malvern, who said how she had gone above and beyond the call of duty to help her.

They said how Mrs Hankins gave up her own time to take them to visit their seriously ill uncle at North Staffordshire Hospital.

“This is because when travelling by train it causes me to get highly anxious and stressed and takes me a long time to get over when I return,” the nomination said. “She would not accept the petrol money. My uncle was in intensive care and Kathy came in with me and supported me all the time.” Mrs Hankins, who has recently started a new role with the trust as clinical lead for its Worcester and Malvern Community Mental Health Teams, said she was thrilled just to be nominated for the award. “I was really delighted to be nominated, particularly for an award that is chosen by the patients because they are right at the heart of what we do,” she said. “Getting this award is very meaningful for me but it is very much a team effort and it is a really lovely acknowledgement for mental health services as a whole.”

Another award winner recognised for their outstanding efforts was volunteer Richard Clarke – who dedicated more than 20 years to running a five-a-side football group for users at Orchard Place, a mental health facility in Redditch.

The 43-year-old said: “To even have your name associated with the NHS is, for me, a huge honour.

“I was nearly in tears when I first heard that I had been nominated and to actually win was probably one of the best surprises that I have ever had in my life. It was fantastic.”

The trust’s chairman Chris Burdon said all winners, nominees and staff should be hugely proud of their efforts.

“The awards are a chance to celebrate the achievements of our staff and volunteers who go the extra mile for patients and colleagues,” he said. “I’d like to thank all of our dedicated staff for their hard work and commitment in ensuring Worcestershire patients can benefit from the best community and mental health care.”

WINNERS: Emerging Talent Award: Simona Ceci, training and development apprentice, Woodside, Worcester.

Patient Engagement Award: Sally O’Donnell, physiotherapy technician, the Annexe, Kidderminster Health Centre.

Patient Safety Award: ERGO Coach and Falls Link Nurse Team at Pershore Hospital.

Innovation Award: New Haven design team.

Excellence in Integrating Services Award: CAMHS Learning Disability Service, Learning Disability Pathway, Worcestershire.

Clinical Support Award: Louise Adams, support worker, Early Intervention Dementia Service, Kidderminster Hospital.

Partnership Working Award: Community Paediatric Physiotherapy Team (Redditch and Bromsgrove), based at Crabbs Cross, Redditch.

Special Recognition Award: Mark Smedley, business development manager.

Living the Values Award: Penny West, workforce transformation manager, Isaac Maddox House, Worcester.

Volunteer of the Year: Richard Clarke.

Patient Choice Award: Kathy Hankins, community psychiatric nurse, Rowan House, Malvern.