DUDLEY hospital staff have been recognised for their dedication and commitment to patient care at an annual staff awards bash.

More than 300 staff from the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust gathered at The Venue, Dudley, for the Committed to Excellence awards ceremony hosted by former ITN royal correspondent and BBC news/Classic FM presenter Nicholas Owen.

Individuals and teams based at Dudley hospitals and in the community who go the extra mile for patients were presented with awards at the event sponsored by Interserve and Cougar Monitoring.

New Trust chairman Jenni Ord praised the winners and those shortlisted and said: “It has been my privilege to learn about some of the fantastic services and staff commitment at The Dudley Group.

“I am sure we have all seen and felt the care, respect and responsibility shown by all the nominees. Long may it continue for all our patients and public.”

The Trust’s specialist dementia unit, the Forget-me-not Unit, was crowned the winner of the Excellence in Service Improvement category.Dudley News:

The unit, on ward C3, won the award for its innovative ideas to provide the best care and support for patients with dementia and acute confusion.

Interserve maintenance operative Marc Weston, of the Guest Outpatient Centre, was named Unsung Hero in the non-clinical category - for going above the call of duty to help patients and staff; while B2 ward clinical support worker Jennie Breeze won first place in the Unsung Hero clinical category.

C4 ward clinical support worker Suzanne Appleton was named winner of the Excellence in Patient Care award; and the first place Team Excellence award went to the Endoscopy Department.

Tragic Dudley Group shift lead Hugh Davies, who died in a motorcycle accident in Brierley Hill on June 30 last year on his way to work, was also honoured at the awards ceremony.