Senior clinical secretary for children’s therapies and specialist nursing, Claire Hands, was named Operational Services Support Worker of the Year 2019 for the East Midlands region at the national Our Health Heroes awards ceremony which took place at the Science Museum in London on Wednesday 20 November. She was nominated in recognition of the incredible support she offers families as their first point of contact with the Trust.

The Our Health Heroes Awards, which are supported by NHS Health Education England, are now in their fourth year. They recognise the hard work and dedication of NHS staff, acknowledging teams and individuals who go above and beyond, and who are creative and innovative in their roles. The Operational Services Support Worker of the Year Award specifically celebrates the crucial role that operational services professionals play in facilitating the effective delivery of high-quality healthcare services.

Claire, who received her award from GP and TV presenter Dr Dawn Harper, said: “I was so honoured to have been nominated for this award, and to have actually won is amazing. I love my job, and am lucky to be part of a fantastic admin team who work extremely hard to improve quality of care and ensure that both service users and clinicians are supported and have a positive experience.”

Claire was nominated by Kirsty Gosling, team leader for children’s therapy. Kirsty said: “Claire is an integral member of the service, and is often the first contact a family has when they call in asking for support. This can be an anxious time for them, and Claire is able to support them and ensure their needs are met. She is professional, organised and, most importantly, kind. I’m absolutely delighted that she has been recognised in this way.”