National award for hospital porters

WINNERS: The Portering Team of the Year collecting their award

By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor

Hospital porters at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital have received national recognition.

The staff from Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have been named Portering Team of the Year at the national MyPorter Awards, held in London. 

Graham Taylor, interim portering, postal and switchboard manager, said: “Being recognised nationally as Portering Team of the Year is outstanding and I am immensely proud to represent this team. Their responsibilities and duties go far beyond simply pushing a stretcher or moving a bed.  

“They are expert communicators, constantly keeping patients and their families informed and reassured during difficult and often uncertain times. Their dedication and compassionate attitude towards their work make them invaluable members of our organisation.”  

One of the key achievements the team’s award nomination was based this year was the ‘Ready to Go’ model, which is designed to make the process of discharging a patient from hospital or to another ward or unit more efficient.

When booking a job, ward staff are asked to ensure all essential stages of preparation such as medication and transport have been arranged before the porter attends. 

The team is also contributing to the trust’s carbon reduction efforts through the management of nitrous oxide.

Now responsible for the management, distribution and replacement of this potentially harmful gas in the majority of hospital locations, the team collects data and employs practices which are designed to minimise the harm caused by medical gases and reduce waste which could damage the environment. 

More than 300 nominations were received for the MyPorter awards this year from hospital trusts across the country.

Graham added: “This team truly is phenomenal, and it fills me with pride to witness their unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of patients and their families every day. 

“The team may not always receive the recognition that they truly deserve, but their contributions are immeasurable. They are the unsung heroes who quietly and efficiently keep the hospital running and deserve to be celebrated for their hard work and dedication.”