More than 125 people, including staff from NHS Ayrshire & Arran and our three health and social care partnerships, gathered to celebrate the shortlisted finalists at this year’s Ayrshire Achieves awards. The event, held at the dining rooms at University Hospital Ayr, recognised exceptional contributions across our local health and social care delivery.
On the night, the winners of each category within Ayrshire Achieves were announced, following a vote where members of the public and staff were able to select their prizewinners.
Professor Gordon James, Chief Executive of NHS Ayrshire & Arran said:
“This is my first year at the Ayrshire Achieves event and it has been a wonderfully positive experience celebrating all these fantastic individuals and teams from across the health board and our partnerships.
“Their hard work, innovation, determination and compassion make a difference every single day and we are so proud to have them helping deliver health and social care services here in Ayrshire. Thank you to each and every one of our deserving finalists and congratulations to the winners – all of you are a credit to the organisation.”
The event was live-streamed on YouTube, ensuring those unable to attend could still enjoy the highlights. The evening featured a celebratory dinner prepared by the catering team at University Hospital Ayr, and a raffle that raised £710 for Crosshouse Children’s Fund.
The Ayrshire Achieves winners, announced on the night, were:
Chairperson and Chief Executive’s Award:
- NHS Ayrshire & Arran Spiritual, Staff and Person-Centred Care Team
Callan Thain Memorial Award for the Young Achiever of the Year, sponsored by Unite:
- Rachael Picken, General Practice Pharmacy Support Worker (North Ayrshire)
Care and compassion, sponsored by NHS Credit Union:
- The Community-Based Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialist Team
Collaboration and working together, sponsored by NHS Credit Union:
- The Cancer Services Multidisciplinary Team
Innovation, sponsored by NHS Credit Union
- The Vibrant Voices Singing Group
Shining Star, sponsored by Unite:
- Emma McGilvery, Phoenix Homelessness Pharmacist
Support Worker, sponsored by UNISON
- University Hospital Crosshouse Garden and Grounds Team
Sustainability, sponsored by UNISON:
- Care Home Medicine Returns Pilot Team
Lesley Bowie, Chair of Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board, added:
“The annual Ayrshire Achieves event embodies our ambitions and values here at NHS Ayrshire & Arran. Every nominee has contributed to improving the life and healthcare outcomes for local people, and I applaud each and every one of those shortlisted.
“This year a new award category was introduced in honour of our former colleague Callan Thain, who sadly passed away last year, aged just 29 years. The Callan Thain Memorial Award for the Young Achiever of the Year has been created to recognise outstanding young individuals working in health or social care roles in Ayrshire – something Callan himself definitely embodied in his role as a Biomedical Scientist. My thanks go to Unite for sponsoring that award and to our other supporters, the NHS Credit Union, UNISON and RCN who also provided sponsorship for our Ayrshire Achieves awards.”
Ayrshire Achieves is funded by NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Charity Fund and is supported by NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Area Partnership Forum.
