HOSPITAL staff and volunteers who have gone that extra mile for others have been congratulated in the latest round of the At Our Best awards.

There were 90 entries for individuals, teams and volunteers who are based at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust.

These were shortlisted to 13 individuals, 11 teams and one volunteer, plus a special team entry.

Winners and runners-up were announced at a lunch ceremony.

Taking the individual category prize was Dr David Ranasinghe.

He convinced an anxious breast cancer patient, who had been terrified of anaesthetic, to undergo surgery.

The citation from his nominee read: “This member of staff took the time to listen to her concerns by meeting her prior to surgery.

“They put together a detailed stepby- step plan which she was fully involved in formulating, and had a copy herself.

“This empowered her as a patient and made all the difference.

“Without this, I’m sure this lady would not have gone ahead.

“I am pleased to say she came through the anaesthetic without any problems and her confidence was boosted to the point that she was able to face a second surgery a fewmonths later.”

Ruth Carr was runner-up in the individual category after she told a couple undergoing routine carbon monoxide monitoring to get their home boiler checked straight away.

Later, it was discovered the gas hob was leaking, so her advice was potentially life-saving.

The Elmstead surgical team won the team category.

Their nominee described how they put her severely autistic daughter under anaesthetic for dentistry work.

Joint runners-up in the team category were the Children’s Ward administration team and security.

The Children’s Ward team have pulled together through the changes of a new IT system.

The security team responded when a patient on a nightshift became very aggressive and tried to assault two members of staff.

They treated both staff and the patient with dignity and professionalism.

Rena Robinson, Patricia Nicholls, MaureenBennett and JanWard took home the volunteer award.

In their roles, they undertake a variety of emotional and practical support tasks, such as visiting wards and chemotherapy each day, telephone befriending, information giving and complex problem solving.

The citation read: “Recently, they all gave extra time as volunteers over a period of a month to accompany a radiotherapy patient attending daily treatment on his own.

“They provided safety and reassurance and companionship for him.

He needed someone to accompany him at all times and the work of these volunteers was a great help, as it allowed the radiotherapy staff to continue their usual work.” Runnerup in the volunteer category was Janet Taylor, who works as a hand holder in the theatre department.

In addition to this, she spends time chatting to alleviate patients’ anxieties prior to their surgery.

The awards are held quarterly and every nominated person or team gets a letter of congratulation from the trust chief executive, Dr Lucy Moore.

Entries are judged on the 50 or so words written where a person or team demonstrates the At Our Best behaviour standards and values – “caring”, “communication” and “consistency”.

Winners of the individual awards receive £25 in High Street vouchers and winning teams £100 of leisure vouchers.