Call to nominate NHS staff for top honour

Dr Nigel Laycock, on the Children's Ward, at Blackpool Victoria Hospital

Last year, nominations for the hospital trust’s annual Celebrating Success awards scheme broke all records, with close to 300 nominations, while the standard of submissions was extremely high.

The judging panel was delighted with the number of people who had taken the time to nominate members of staff for The Gazette’s Patients Award.

Now the judges are hoping there will be even more entries for this special award in 2015.

The Gazette’s Patients Award, which is now in its ninth year, is part of the annual Celebrating Success Awards, which aim to recognise excellence in care given by workers at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust every day.

The winner of last year’s Patients Award was paediatric consultant, Dr Nigel Laycock (pictured). He won the award for the exceptional care he gave to a terminally ill girl.

He had been nominated by Margaret Seddon, from Blackpool, who said Dr Laycock had been “a rock” when her seven-year-old great granddaughter was ill and even offered to be there for the family on Christmas Day.

She said: “Dr Laycock was there for my grandson and his wife 24/7, giving them his phone number and telling them to contact him whenever they needed to.

“It wasn’t just his skills as a clinician, although these were much appreciated.

“It was everything about him as human being – his down-to-earth attitude, his friendliness, his approachability, his care, his understanding.”

Dr Laycock said: “It was a privilege to be involved with the family. I try to do the best I can for my patients and give them the best quality of life possible.”

The winner of The Gazette’s Patients Award receives a trophy and £500 to invest in their area of work within the trust. Dr Laycock used his prize fund to purchase sensory equipment for children.

Nominations for the 2015 award will close on Friday, July 17. The judging panel will meet on August 5 to shortlist each category.

To nominate a member of trust staff contact the communications department on (01253) 953059, or email  [email protected] to request a form, or visit www.bfwh.nhs.uk/about/success.