Alan Cooney and City Hospital Estates and Facilities Service Team

The special award celebrated 70 years of the NHS and was awarded to someone – or a team of people – who did something outstanding to help others.

Two winners were chosen:–

Alan Cooney wasn’t fazed when he had to walk six miles in the snow to get to work when the Beast From The East hit the UK.

In fact, the award winner just took it in his stride.

Like many others, he just could not budge his car after the snows fell in February but Alan was not going to let something like that get in his way. He walked six miles in dreadful weather conditions to make sure that none of his patients missed their surgery.

Alan said: “I quite enjoyed it. It was quite invigorating.”

In explanation, he said: “I felt that I should still make an effort and try to get there.”

The nomination for Alan said: “I believe that this is one instance which demonstrates how he goes above and beyond for the patients in his care.”

But after accepting his award, humble Alan said he felt the achievements of other shortlisted contenders at the awards were much more significant. He said his own actions “paled into insignificance compared to what some people have done.

“But it is very gratifying that someone has acknowledged me.”

While over in Sunderland, the extremely dedicated City Hospitals Estates and Facilities Service Team made sure that the hospital kept running throughout the extreme weather .

The team cleared paths and roads from 1am onwards so that patients, staff, ambulances, the lot, could get to hospital safely.

The nomination for them said: “Their effort for keeping City Hospitals roads and pathsclearofsnowwasfantastic and deserves recognition.”

Speaking on behalf of the team Andy Birch said the award meant a lot to them.

He said: “It is brilliant to have won and we are all over the moon to be recognised.

“We support the clinical staff the doctors and nurses andtheservicesatthehospital.

“If it wasn’t for us the hospital wouldn’t function, so it is fantastic to be recognised and it really means a lot to us all.”

70th Award winner Alan Cooney (left) pictured being presented with his award by Ken Bremner, Chief Executive City Hospitals, Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust and fellow award winners, The Sunderland City Hospital...