A nurse based at Andover War Memorial Hospital is celebrating after picking up a top honour at the NHS Thames Valley and Wessex Leadership Academy Awards.
Elaine Ward, who is Clinical Services Lead in the Minor Injuries Unit, was named joint winner of the Emerging Leader Award at the ceremony, which took place at Wokefield Park, near Reading, on 19th November.
Elaine said: “I’m very proud but still a bit stunned. I can’t quite believe it, but it’s absolutely brilliant.”
“I was really shocked to win because I was up against some really strong competition. It was certainly a surprise when they read my name out.”
Elaine was nominated after arranging a conference for Healthcare Assistants in July. The conference was her idea and the first of its kind to be run by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
“The idea was to empower the HCAs and show them how much they are valued and appreciated,” Elaine explained. “I really want some of them to run the next conference themselves, or at least speak at it.”
“I hope that winning this award will give me the confidence to go on and achieve even more. It’s really nice when people believe in you and it’s good because that is what I was trying to do for the HCAs.”
It’s the second year in a row that a member of staff from HHFT has won this award. Domestic and Laundry Manager Billi-Anne Harris picked up the prize last year, before being promoted to Facilities Manager at Basingstoke.
