The matron at Evesham’s Community Hospital has been crowned ‘Leader of the Year’ at an NHS awards ceremony.
Shirley Hodgetts has been matron at the Waterside hospital for just over a year and was given the accolade at Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust’s annual staff awards last Wednesday.
The ‘delighted’ matron, who was nominated by the trust’s senior management team, was handed the award by special guest and Falklands War hero Simon Weston CBE.
Evesham Community Hospital’s inpatient stroke rehabilitation wards were also given the Ambitious Award at the event.
The wards, which opened earlier this year when all of Worcestershire’s specialist stroke beds were moved to Evesham, support patients recovering from a serious stroke and is already reducing lengths of stay enabling patients to return home more quickly to continue their recovery.
Speaking after receiving her award, Shirley said: “I am delighted to have won this award and grateful to the Trust for the help and support I and the team here at Evesham Community Hospital has received during my time here.
“It is a great place to work and I am lucky to have such outstanding nurses, therapists, porters, caterers, housekeeping and all the other staff without which the hospital wouldn’t be as effective as it is today.”
