Victor Adjei, of Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield has this week been recognised by the NHS and awarded for his work as a porter, standing out for the judges among masses of entries from the UK & Ireland. A passionate person, dubbed a ‘ray of sunshine’ Victor never says ‘no’ to work and always goes the extra mile, with a smile on his face and willingness to apply his many skills wherever they are required, assisting on weekends and staying late where other shifts can’t be covered due to sickness or absence. Victor is an inspiration to his team because of his empathy and positivity. Team members emulate him because of the optimistic, dedicated way he cares for everyone around him. All his work as a porter was just the beginning for the NHS judges, when they found out how Victor had suffered through personal challenges, it became impossible not to see him as a worthy winner. Father to a very unwell child who still requires 24-hour care, he spent over a year at his child’s bedside at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Battling through dire prognoses, including the recommendation that he turn off his child’s life support, Victor slept on the floor of the hospital ward before travelling into work each day. Despite doctors’ advice that he should give up work to avoid this daily struggle, he refused, stating that living in the hospital gave him a clearer appreciation of how porters and other staff can be instrumental in a patient’s outlook. Stating: “I love what I do and the unique contribution we make to our patients’ recovery. This is my why”. This week, Victor found out he is the winner of the MyPorter – Porter of The Year Award at this years’ National MyPorter Awards – in association with NHS England. Taking place in central London, the National MyPorter Awards saw six awards presented to the finalists from across the country who made the NHS judges shortlist. The broad range of entries showed just why the NHS porters deserve to be honoured and praised, just like the Doctors and Nurses they work with often are. Nominations such as that for eventual winner of the Dennis Southern – Lifetime Achievement Award, which went to Robbie Graham. Robbie is a massive fan of Liverpool football Club and unfortunately in April 1989 when he was attending a match at Hillsborough Football Ground he was involved in a major incident that changed his life. He left that game with life changing injuries and had to rebuild his life and career path. After going back to college to complete studies in Health & Social Care, due to his injuries and disability he was unfortunately unable to go into full time employment, so he offered his services as a volunteer and joined a disabled Charity.
In 2004 Robbie decided to join the NHS and became a volunteer working with the portering team at Ormskirk District General Hospital. Robbie currently works 4 days a week and assists with several portering roles during his shift including delivering the post, assisting his colleagues in X-ray with transfers and also helps in Pharmacy.
Father-Daughter duo Jemma & Danny Roscoe at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust were also winners; Jemma recently attended site at 6am to assist with flooding, she moved sandbags and assisted with cleaning to minimise damage to the hospital. She always finds a solution to any issue that is presented to her, from ensuring special diet meals are delivered to the wards to fixing broken pipes at 5am. During Covid Danny Roscoe gave his personal mobile number to the wards and offered to assist with oxygen at any time of the day or night. Danny is the “go to” man on his hospital site, if there is a problem he will fix it! He frequently comes in during the festive period in his own time dressed as Santa and will sit and chat with patients in the local hospice – these examples of their great work resulted in them winning the ‘Portering Team of The Year Award’.
The Finalists attended a live conference during the day which saw them hear guest speakers talk to them about the future of portering, team work and portering peers who talked best practice and the need for the Government to acknowledge the expertise of portering with a recognised qualification. Guests then dined on a three-course meal before the live awards ceremony celebrated the great work done by these unsung heroes of the NHS.
Fiona Daly - National Deputy Director of Estates at NHS England said at the event: “Today’s event has been brilliant, here, recognizing all the great work that is happening across the NHS with the portering services within Estates and Facilities – during times like the pandemic, the likes of the porters, the cleaners, the security guards – they kept the NHS going. They are the beating heart of NHS and it has been amazing to be here today recognizing all of their efforts not just for during the pandemic, but now as we move towards a period of recovery”.
Winners
Porter of The Year Award
Victor Adjei - Chase Farm Hospital (Royal Free London)
The Dennis Southern For Endeavour Award
Robbie Graham - Southport & Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust
Team of The Year Award
Jemma and Danny Roscoe - Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Leadership of The Year Award
Ryan Lindsay - Barnet Hospital (Royal Free London)
Outstanding Contribution to Patient Experience Award
Joshua Hawkins - Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Newcomer of The Year Award
Jack Teague - Royal Surrey County Hospital
International Porter of The Year
Craig McElroy - Beaumont Hospital
Sky News Interview