PHYSIOTHERAPIST Cordy Gaubert (pictured above) has been shortlisted for a national ‘Our Health Heroes award’ for her outstanding work during the COVID-19 pandemic at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist Cordy is one of just three NHS workers nationwide nominated in the 2021 awards’ Outstanding Contribution category.
Awards organisers Skills for Health together with partners NHS Employers, UNISON and Bevan Brittan are now encouraging members of the public and health and social care colleagues to have their say and vote for who should be crowned national category winners at the virtual awards ceremony on March 23.
Cordy’s citation on the Health for Heroes award website, says:
‘As lead ICU physiotherapist, Cordy spearheaded collaboration across the therapist and multi-disciplinary team, implementing service changes with colleagues to accommodate, meet the needs and aid recovery of COVID-19 patients.
She’s provided respiratory teaching to redeployed colleagues and worked closely with those picking up discharged ICU patients. She’s also brought respiratory, musculoskeletal & neuro-physiotherapy teams together in a unified way, developing care pathways to try & prevent long-stay ICU patient complications – she’s now co-submitted a business plan for Critical Care Rehabilitation roles to enhance ongoing, recovery care of ICU-leavers. This uniformed endeavour has created a space where clinicians felt supported, patient care has been excellent & services have developed for good.’
Humbled
Responding to her nomination, Cordy said: “I was extremely overwhelmed and humbled to hear I had been nominated for an Our Health Heroes award for Outstanding Contribution.
“This year has been the most challenging of my career, both physically and emotionally, but has also demonstrated to me the incredible human resilience in my physiotherapy, nursing and medical colleagues, and also in our patients.
“This nomination means a huge amount to me personally, but is a reflection of many people’s hard work and the collaboration between multi-professional teams. I am very lucky to work with such brilliant, supportive and innovative colleagues within our Therapy department and on Critical Care at BTHFT.”
Nicola Sheehan, Head of Therapies at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, added: “We are extremely proud that Cordy has been nominated for this award. She is an inspirational physiotherapist who goes over and above in the care and support of her patients and her team.
“COVID-19 has brought many challenges for health services, patients and staff, and Cordy truly has made an outstanding contribution in the ongoing fight against this disease. We wish her all the best for this award.”
Rebecca Smith, Managing Director of NHS Employers, which has sponsored the Our Health Heroes ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award, said: “NHS Employers is proud once again to have the opportunity to sponsor the Outstanding Contribution award, to ensure we recognise all our teams, who go above and beyond for our patients every day.
Dedication
“This is a wonderful way to shine a light on those whose contribution and dedication deserves to be recognised and celebrated, but who often go unacknowledged, and it’s especially welcome now, at a time when the COVID-19 crisis continues to place an unprecedented strain on all our staff.”
This year’s Our Health Heroes awards feature a total of 15 exceptional finalists across the Outstanding Contribution, Apprentice of the Year, Clinical Support Worker of the Year, Independent Health and Care Social Worker of the Year, and Operational Support Services Worker of the Year categories. A record number of public votes are expected to crown the winners.
John Rogers, Chief Executive, Skills for Health, said: “In any given year, trying to identify a “winner” of Our Health Heroes is, of course, near impossible. But after 2020, our NHS, health and social care staff in their entirety are truly deserving of an award. Reading through the submissions is humbling and emotional, in recognising the outstanding contribution by so many across the sector, over the last 12 months, and as we speak.
“These unsung heroes, often working behind the scenes, have never asked for a medal, glory or even recognition, in fact, most if asked, simply brush it off by saying ‘it’s just part of my job’. Yet, it is these individuals who form the backbone of our NHS, social care, and independent healthcare organisations, and without whom, our health system simply could not function.
“The vaccination programme is a huge endeavour, but its benefits will take months to have a positive impact on the current stresses across our health and care systems, yet we will watch as staff
continue to rise to the ongoing challenges. If we did not already know this, then all this year’s Our Health Heroes nominations make it very clear, that the sheer commitment, compassion and unwavering resolve of our NHS people will carry us beyond the pandemic and on to better times.”
This year’s shortlist of 15 finalists features:
Apprentice of the Year sponsored by UNISON:
• Sofia Goodchild, Apprentice Partnerships and Integration Administrator, NHS Castle Point and
Rochford CCG
• Isa Ullah-Khan, Apprentice Healthcare Assistant, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Janine Pring, Apprentice Respiratory Physiologist, North Bristol NHS Trust
Outstanding Contribution sponsored by NHS Employers:
• Cody Gaubert, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• Janis Hostad, Education and Development Coordinator, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust
• Dr Amit Arora, Consultant Geriatrician, University Hospital of North Midlands
Operational Services Support Worker of the Year sponsored by UNISON:
• Marie Smith, Ward Clerk, St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• Laura Hurford, Learning and Development Senior Administrator, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS
Trust
• Tina Hughes, Domestic Assistant, East Kent Hospitals University NHS FT
Clinical Support Worker of the Year:
• Claire Petford Norton, Healthcare Assistant, Milton Keynes University Hospital
• Eileen McCullough, Support Worker, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
• Thomas Gregory-Smith, Community Support Worker, Older Adult Community Mental Health
Team, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Independent Health and Social Care Worker of the Year:
• Joshua Mizen, Specialist Support Worker, Thompsons Homecare
• Peter Morris, Gardener, St Raphael’s Hospice
• Steve Singh, Driver/Support Worker, Sahara Care Ltd
Voting is now open, and closes on Monday, February 8. Vote here.
Finalists and nominees will be celebrated at a virtual awards ceremony with sector leaders, colleagues, friends and family on March 23, where the national winners of the individual categories will be awarded gold, silver and bronze, and the winners of the Integrated Team of The Year, Learning and Development Project/Team of the Year, Independent Health and Social Care Worker of the Year, Health and Wellbeing Employer of the Year, and Digital Innovation Person/Team will also be announced.
Follow #OurHealthHeroes on Twitter for all the latest updates.
Ends
Notes to editors
About Skills for Health
Skills for Health is a not-for-profit organisation committed to the development of an improved and sustainable healthcare workforce across the UK. Established in 2002, as the Sector Skills Council for Health for the UK health sector, it is the authoritative voice on workforce skills issues and offers proven solutions and tools, with the expertise and experience to use them effectively.
About UNISON
UNISON is one of the UK’s largest trade unions, serving more than 1.3 million members. They represent full-time and part-time staff who provide public services, although they may be employed in both the public and private sectors.
About NHS Employers
NHS Employers is the employers’ organisation for the NHS in England. They support NHS workforce leaders through practical tools and resources, expert advice, and guidance, and by listening to
employers to ensure their voice is represented in health policy and practice.
Contact details
Press: Tara Duffy, PR & Comm