• FABB Awards 2024 celebrated Bolton’s NHS health and care workers
• 13 awards handed out to recognise care and compassion to improve care and transform lives
• Midwives, consultants and digital teams amongst this year’s winners

Bolton’s NHS, health and care workers have been recognised at the FABB Awards 2024 for their inspirational compassion and dedication to improve care and transform lives.

The annual celebration of excellence celebrated the work of teams and individuals over the past twelve months across 13 categories, including Extra Mile, Innovation and the People’s Choice Award.

Each year hundreds of health and care workers from Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and partner organisations come together to shine a light on those who provide vital care and support for communities in Bolton.

The deserving winners were announced at special awards ceremony at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, made possible thanks to generous donations from sponsors.

Good evening and welcome to the FABB Awards 2024!

We’re really excited to celebrate the hard work and dedication of Bolton’s health and care workers over the past 12 months.

Join the celebrations tonight using #FABB24 pic.twitter.com/eLuodlmbFr

— Bolton NHS Foundation Trust (@boltonnhsft) September 27, 2024

The Trust’s Miya Project Team picked up the Digital Award for their work to deliver a major patient flow tech upgrade to enhance safety and make the most of bed availability at Royal Bolton Hospital.

The system uses journey boards to show live bed status and helps clinical and operational teams to understand where patients are in their hospital journey – from admission to discharge.

This year’s Dream Team Award went to the Admissions Avoidance Team, recognised for proactively implementing the two-hour Urgent Community Response Service, responding in two hours for up to 92% of referrals this year, much higher than the national target.

They were also part of a new initiative between the Trust and care homes across the town to help reduce the number of people arriving at the hospital’s Emergency Department.

The pilot scheme took place between July and October 2023, and encouraged care homes to contact the Trust’s Admission Avoidance Team for patients at risk of urgent hospital admission, instead of emergency ambulance crews.

Figures from one care home recorded a fall of 68% in the number of Emergency Department attendances and a 65% reduction in the number hospital admissions.

Earlier in the night, Reverend Catherine Binns won the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award for her role in organising the baby memorial service and her care, compassion and inclusivity for families attending it.

Catherine, the Trust’s Deputy Head Chaplain, lives with hidden disabilities and long-term health conditions including Dyslexia, Bronchiectasis, IBS and other conditions.

She is passionate about supporting colleagues with a disability or long-term health issue as Chair of our staff network and supports individuals to make sure they get the help they deserve.

In 2022, Catherine introduced Tandal, the Trust’s new therapy dog and ‘Staff Support Chaplain’ to offer a different kind of support to staff whilst they are at work.

There were also celebrations for partner organisations across for Bolton in the Team Bolton Locality Award, which recognises individuals or teams who work across organisational boundaries to deliver services as one Bolton team.

The SEND Inspection Collaborative won this year’s award for the recent inspection of Bolton’s services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), which resulted in the highest possible rating from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission.

Key partners across the NHS, schools, education providers, early years and the Bolton Parent Carer Forum also contributed to the inspection process.

The report found SEND service providers in Bolton are “passionately ambitious” for children and “inspire a culture of care and creativity”.

Fiona Noden, Chief Executive at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Place Based Lead for Bolton, said:

The FABB Awards are all about celebrating the amazing work of our teams who give their all to improve care and transform lives for the people of Bolton.

“We recognise that it’s been another really difficult and busy year for the NHS in Bolton, but in the face of all the challenges, I’m so proud of how we have continued to develop our services and ourselves to change people’s lives for the better.

Patients and service-users shared what the NHS meant them in a heart-warming video of thanks played to staff on the night.

One new mum, who recently gave birth to her baby boy at Royal Bolton Hospital, paid tribute to the midwives:

I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart. My pregnancy was quite complicated. They made me feel like I had the entire world care on me the entire time.

Dr. Niruban Ratnarajah, Chair at the Trust, said:

All of our teams, whether they’re on the frontline or working behind the scenes, give their all every single day to support our communities with their health and wellbeing.

“The evening is all about shining a spotlight on them, and from 782 nominations to 19 award winners, every single person should feel incredibly proud of what they have achieved over the past twelve months.

Congratulations to the FABB Awards 2024 winners

Quality and Safety Award

B3 Ward

Innovation Award

Comorbidity EPR Project

People’s Choice Award

Cecilia Hopkins, Senior Midwife

FABB Leadership Award

Elaine Hodgson, Matron

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award

Rev. Catherine Binns, Deputy Head Chaplain

FABB Employee Award

Andrew McTavish, Consultant

Dream Team Award

Admissions Avoidance Team

Improving Care Award

Nurse Led IV Access Team

Extra Mile Award

Mark Aylin, Histopathology Section Manager

Greener Future Award

Bolton Community IV Therapy Team

Digital Award

MIYA Project Team

Team Bolton Locality Award

SEND Inspection Collaborative

Divisional Diamond(s) of the Year Award

Lisa Firth, Ward Manager, Acute Adult Care Division

Wendy Irons, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Anaesthetics and Surgical Services Division

Our Voice Staff Choir, Corporate Services

Pre Op Assessment Team, Diagnostic and Support Services Division

Vicky Davies, Infant Feeding Lead, Family Care Division

Paul Vernon, Medical Engineer, iFM Bolton

Elaine Hodgson, Admission Avoidance Team Matron, Integrated Community Services Division

With thanks to our sponsors

 Our Bolton NHS Charity

Altera Digital Health

RLDatix

NHS Professionals

Hempsons

Core To Cloud

Take a look back at the night on our X page. If you’re interested in applying for a role at the Trust, please visit our website.