A WARD supporting people recovering from serious mental illness has been named winner of the patient choice award at an NHS ceremony.

Holt ward, Worcester, which is run by the Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, provides care to adults who have a diagnosed mental health condition which requires inpatient support.

The team at the Holt were named patient choice winners at the trust’s annual award event on Wednesday (October 4th).

The patient choice award is nominated by patients, families and carers. Holt was put forward by a patient who described his stay on the ward earlier this year as the best experience in a hospital environment that he’d had.

The nomination read: “I have just spent six weeks as a patient on Holt ward and I want to say that the behaviour towards me of the nurses and the other staff was quite wonderful and I cannot praise them enough.

“My plaudits are not just for the nursing staff, but for the cleaning and catering staff as well. What I would say is that although we are always hearing about problems in the NHS, how can there be problems when the current workers in the NHS are so wonderful.” Holt ward is based in Newtown Road as part of the Elgar unit. It is a 14-bed ward which provides initial care and assessment of patients.

The staff provide care and support with the aim of helping the patient return home safely as soon as they are able or, if that is not appropriate, to help them

access other more suitable care.

Bev Hardiman, the ward manager, said: “It is a great achievement to win an award which is based on nominations from the very people we are here to help and support.

“All the nominations were worthy winners and it shows the great care the trust provides across all our services and so to be chosen as the winners is such an honour.

“I am lucky to work with such a wonderful and dedicated team who really do go the extra mile to make sure people get the very best we can offer while they are with us,” she said.

Members of the team were presented with their patient choice award by special guest and Falklands War hero Simon Weston.

Almost 200 people attended the annual awards ceremony which was held at Bordesley Park, near Redditch.