Published on: 24 February 2025
Three healthcare workers have been hailed for their work to help keep patients safe during their hospital stay.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust has two staff in the running at this year’s MyCleaning Awards.
The MyCleaning Awards is run by GV Healthcare and is an annual event dedicated to celebrating healthcare cleaners and domestics.
It also recognises other ‘healthcare cleaning heroes’ who also take responsibility to upkeeping standards.
Nicola Scott, an Infection Prevention and Control Admin Team Lead, has been shortlisted for the Leadership of The Year Award.
Her colleague Matthew Graham, who also works for the Trust’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Team, is in the running in the Auditor of The Year Award category.
Nicola Scott and Matthew Graham are shortlisted for titles in the GV Healthcare MyCleaning Awards.
Dan Donkin is an Assistant Domestic and Linen Manager for Choice. This is the Trust’s wholly owned subsidiary and provides its estates and facilities services.
He has been shortlisted for the Newcomer of The Year Award.
Dan Donkin has been nominated for a GV Healthcare MyCleaning Award.
All three are based at Sunderland Royal Hospital.
They will find out if they are winners tomorrow, Tuesday, February 25, when the ceremony is held in London.
Angela Scott is Head of IPC for the Trust.
She said:
"Nicola was nominated for her innovation, determination, leadership and enthusiasm for the successful launch of new data capture systems within STSFT.
"She is such a strong asset to the team, as well as our organisation, and she is dedicated and hardworking and always goes beyond expectations.
"Since she joined our team four years ago, she has used technology to improve how we work.
"Matthew is a dedicated team player who also works hard and is a very good problem solver.
"All our audits are now conducted electronically through a system called MyAudit. In addition to helping to teach the staff, Matthew works hard to ensure the system works really well.
"During the last year he has completed almost 400 audits, which is an astounding number. He has quickly raised issues and made sure a plan has been in place to deal with them.
"He has already been recognised by the Chief Executive with an Excellence Report because of the work he has done to help ward staff with patients and other tasks while conducting audits.
"Effective infection prevention control practices are essential as we make sure people who need our care are safe.
"Both Nicola and Matthew play an integral part of doing this and I am proud they are part of our team."
Dan started working for Choice in November 2023 as a trainee manager.
Doug Davis, Domestic and Linen Services Manager, put him forward for the award.
Doug said:
"Dan’s greatest strength is his people management skills.
"He easily establishes mutual trust and respect with his colleagues and those he is in charge of.
"His knowledge and approachability inspire confidence and often make him the go-to manger for domestics and supervisors and he takes a genuine interest in their welfare and development.
"He has overseen a series of changes which have helped us make improvements, up productivity and supported his manager.
"He clearly has the potential for long successful career in facilities management."
