NHS workers in spotlight for national celebration

COOKS, cleaners, and other unsung heroes who work behind the scenes to keep our hospitals and health buildings running smoothly are to be celebrated this week.

Solent NHS Estates and Facilities is taking part in the first National Healthcare Estates and Facilities Day on Wednesday, June 15, aimed at raising the profile of the important work which goes on in the background, largely out of sight.

Over the past year, Solent’s Estates and Facilities team of more than 300 has worked quietly and calmly to ensure its many sites, mainly across the Southampton and Portsmouth area, continue to operate safely and effectively.

Staff being honoured on the day include Solent’s cleaning, catering, security, projects, and clinical engineering teams.

Every member of the NHS Estates and Facilities team is to receive a thank you cupcake and a specially designed badge as a small token of appreciation for all their hard work.

The celebration will also see the launch of Solent’s first staff awards, with one outstanding team member set to receive a unique gold version of the badge, produced in recognition of their incredible achievement.

Andrew Strevens, the chief executive of Solent NHS Trust, said: ‘Our Estates and Facilities team has an excellent reputation which just keeps growing.

‘We are lucky at Solent to have such an amazing group of people who pull together to deliver outstanding results; the team is critical in the delivery of continued high quality patient care and I welcome this opportunity to recognise and celebrate that.’