THORNBURY’S hospital, a district nurse from Yate and a manager for South Gloucestershire children’s health services have all been recognised in an annual staff award ceremony.

The awards recognise those who go above and beyond their duties time and time again on behalf of Sirona health and care, with nominations for the winners put forward by the public.

Not-for profit Sirona provides community health and care services in South Gloucestershire, as well as Bristol and residential homes and extra care facilities in Bath and North East Somerset.

The award ceremony at the Bristol and Bath Science Park, coinciding with Sirona’s birthday, recognised their best from across the region.

During the ceremony, a special recognition award was presented to Thornbury Hospital ward manager Rebecca Thomas on behalf of the organisation for achieving a “Good” rating overall from the CQC and “Outstanding” for the care provided.

Jenny Theed, Director of Operations and Nursing for Sirona, told staff: ““When the CQC inspectors visited Sirona they were looking for good as the standard; what they found was outstanding care across the board.

“I want to say thank you to each and every one of you for the enormous contribution you make to Sirona and for the difference you make to the lives of so many people.

“I am asking Rebecca to collect the award on behalf of everyone; but the staff at Thornbury Hospital were praised for the way they ensure that every patient is cared for as an individual with compassion and dignity.

“They mentioned how a member of staff at the hospital who, while caring for someone at the end of their life, heard all about their love of the smell of fish and chips and then promptly purchased these for all on the ward helping to evoke past positive memories.”

Yate district nurse team leader Helen Gowen won the personal development award while Deana Taylor, operational manager for community children’s health services in South Gloucestershire won the leadership award.

A further winner from the area was the Family Nurse Partnership, which offers support to children and families across South Gloucestershire, picking up the team of the year award.

Janet Rowse, Sirona’s chief executive, said: “I cannot begin to describe how much I love this annual event. It demonstrates everything that is core to Sirona – kinship, support, recognition and saying thank you.

“In the midst of our really busy day to day work it is all too easy to take each other for granted and to not notice those extra little, and sometimes not so little, things that people do to make life easier and smoother for all of us.

“Although there are always winners, the winners represent all of our staff who are living our ethos in their words and actions and I thank each and every one of them for this commitment.”