SIR Alex Ferguson, former manager at Manchester United Football Club, and BBC broadcaster and presenter Nicky Campbell, both made special guest appearances and thanked staff at this year’s Northern Care Alliance NHS Group (NCA) Staff Awards including staff from Oldham Care Organisation.

The NCA Group brings together around 19,000 staff and services from the Salford Royal and Pennine Acute Hospital NHS Trusts.

Hundreds of staff from the NCA’s five hospitals and community healthcare services in Salford, Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and North Manchester came together to celebrate and recognise the exceptional efforts and achievements of colleagues across a number of award categories.

Of the 13 awards presented, Dr Prakash Kamath, paediatric consultant at The Royal Oldham, scooped the overall Doctor of the Year, whilst Julie Winterbottom, lead nurse at Oldham Emergency Department was crowned Nurse of the Year. Team of the year was presented to the Breast Surgery and Radiology team at North Manchester General Hospital.

The chairman’s Unsung Hero Award was presented to the hospital’s security teams in recognition for their help, compassion and work with the local homeless community.

Dr Krystyna Walton, neuro rehabilitation consultant at Salford Royal, was presented with the Chief Executive’s Award.

The Patient’s Choice Award, voted by the public and patients, was awarded jointly to staff at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at The Royal Oldham and the specialist acute neuro-surgery ward B7 at Salford Royal.

Sir Alex and Nicky were both treated at Salford Royal Hospital earlier this year and both praised the outstanding level of care they received while patients.

Taking to the stage on the night Sir Alex said: “The main reason I am here today is to thank the NHS, once again, for what they did for me, and that’s the reason I am standing here today in good health, so thank you very much.”

Nicky Campbell said: “It is a huge pleasure to host the Northern Care Alliance Staff Awards in Manchester. After the care I got from Salford Royal with my kidney stones I am in awe. It is amazing to share a stage with Sir Alex, having to follow him is not an easy task as we well know.”

NCA chairman, Jim Potter said: “I would like to take this opportunity as chairman and on behalf of our Board to sincerely thank everyone here tonight, and all of our staff, for your unrelenting hard work, professionalism and commitment in providing high quality and compassionate care for those who need and use our services across the communities we serve. Thank you. For the Unsung Hero Award, our hospital security teams are absolute role models in discreet compassionate care supporting our homeless community.”

Some highlights from the Staff Awards 2019 include:

Oldham Care Organisation winners included: Doctor of the year award, Dr Prakash Kamath, paediatric consultant; nurse of the year award, Julie Winterbottom, lead nurse A&E; midwife of the year award, Ann Dunn, specialist midwife for mental health;

Patients’ choice award, NICU.

Nicola Firth, chief officer, Oldham Care Org said: “The NICU at Oldham is a level three neonatal unit, one of three specialist regional neonatal centres. The unit provides the highest level of intensive care to the smallest and most vulnerable babies. The NICU consists of 37 cots with nine intensive care, nine high dependency and 19 special care cots. The team was praised by patients for the outstanding level of care they provide.”