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Pictured: L-R Jackie Bunn, Facilities Team Manager and Carole Walker, EBME Support Officer

Two local NHS staff who play a key role supporting front line clinical services have been shortlisted for national awards.

Jackie Bunn and Carole Walker from the Estates and Facilities Team at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust have been shortlisted in the national Health Estates & Facilities Management Association Awards (HEFMA). Jackie, who leads the facilities team based in Herefordshire is up for the Leader of the Year Award, while Carole, who works in the Electrical and Biomedical Engineering (EBME) Services department is up for the Personal Development Award category.

Jackie said: “To be nominated was great, to be shortlisted is fabulous! I’m very excited about the possibility of winning Leader of the Year. However, I couldn’t have reach this far in my career without the continued support of my work colleagues and friends. Fingers crossed I can bring it home for my “work family” the wider teams and most of all Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust”.

Carole said: “I am overwhelmed to be nominated for the HEFMA Personal Development Award.  I am thankful for being recognised for my hard work; it is a privilege to work with such an amazing supportive team.  I love my job it is great to know I am in some way contributing towards making a difference with improving our service.”   

The HEFMA awards recognise the outstanding contributions of those staff and teams working in estates and facilities services within the NHS. The Trust’s Estates and Facilities teams includes housekeeping, maintenance, catering, portering, transport, linen and laundry, EBME, switchboard, uniform services and reception services.

The winners will be announced at an event in May.

Maxine Heath, Head of Facilities Services for Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust says: “Our Estates and Facilities Teams are often unsung heroes of the NHS and they play such a critical role in ensuring clinical services run smoothly. The teams work tirelessly to support patients and staff, ensuring our environments are safe, clean, and well maintained and they pride themselves on making a positive contribution to someone’s health and wellbeing while they are with us. We are all really proud of Jackie and Carole and their individual recognition reflects the outstanding efforts of the whole team here at the Health and Care Trust who have gone above and beyond and in particular during the course of the pandemic.”

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust runs community services, including community hospitals, in Worcestershire and is responsible for mental health services across both counties.