Oldham NHS heroes celebrated

The care, compassion and dedication of NHS mental health and learning disability staff has been recognised at a glittering and fully sponsored awards ceremony.

Nine awards were presented to teams and individuals who work for Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health, learning disability and autism services across Oldham and other areas of Greater Manchester. 

In its fourth year - with all costs covered by sponsorship - 400 guests enjoyed a jam-packed evening, hosted by radio and TV presenter Stephanie Hirst (pictured below). This included 27 award finalists, who were selected from over 500 nominations. 

A series of short but powerful films showcased the finalists’ life-changing contributions, alongside a heartfelt patient thank-you video and moving tribute to nurse Erika Slater, who passed away last year.   

She was nominated for a ray of sunshine award in recognition of bringing sunshine, care and compassion into the lives of patients, families, and colleagues for over 50 years. 

Pennine Care chief executive Anthony Hassall said: “Our Pennine Care People Awards is a powerful reminder of what makes our organisation so special.  

“Our incredible colleagues are the beating heart of the NHS. In the face of ongoing challenges, their compassion, innovation, and resilience continue to change lives every day. 

“Hearing so many inspiring stories and seeing the pride in the room showed just how much extraordinary work happens across our services.  

“With more than 500 nominations this year, tonight offered a small but moving snapshot of the dedication, talent, and care that our people bring to our communities, and I am immensely proud of every one of our Pennine Care People.” 

Claudette Elliott, Pennine Care chair, added: “The room was filled with warmth, hope, and pride. It was truly uplifting and reminded me exactly why Pennine Care holds such a special place in my heart. 

“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most compassionate, committed, and skilled people I’ve ever known. As a former auxiliary nurse and social worker, I understand how demanding frontline care can be - yet our colleagues continue to show up, care deeply, and make a difference every single day. Because of them, patients, carers, and families are never alone and always have hope for a brighter future.” 

This year’s coveted team of the year winner was Cedars ward, an older male dementia unit based at The Royal Oldham Hospital. They were nominated for delivering exceptional dementia care and always treating patients with dignity, empathy and respect.

Through determination, creativity, and teamwork, they’ve transformed challenges into progress, improved care quality, and created a safe, nurturing environment where patients and staff thrive. 

The great improvement award went to the five Living well services (pictured above) which cover Oldham; Bury; Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale; Stockport; Tameside and Glossop. 

They were nominated for bridging the gap for people whose needs are too complex for primary care but not enough for specialist mental health care. They’re closing the gap by uniting NHS staff, GPs, social workers, voluntary, community and social enterprise colleagues and others.

Their ‘no wrong door’ approach has improved care and experience for thousands of people, transforming lives and offering hope for the future. 

The brilliant partnership winner was the New starters project team (pictured above). Transforming how new colleagues join Pennine Care, this inspiring cross-department partnership has streamlined processes, reduced delays, and created a smoother, kinder welcome for every new starter. 

Through ingenuity, teamwork, and determination, they turned confusion into clarity, ensuring every colleague begins their journey feeling supported, valued, and ready to thrive.  Ensuring a positive start for new colleagues directly impacts the care and experience people in Oldham receive. 

People can find out more about the winners and other finalists at www.penninecare.nhs.uk/awards2025