Cleaning and Porter awards acknowledge Medirest teams
This year’s annual MyCleaning and MyPorter Awards have taken place (20 and 21 February respectively), with Medirest teams being recognised across several categories for going above and beyond with these vital functions within hospitals.
The awards are organised in collaboration with NHS England and receive hundreds of entries from across the UK’s healthcare sector. The awards recognise the unsung heroes within healthcare, shining a spotlight on the great, essential work they do.
MyCleaning Awards Medirest winners
Sylvia Sinclair, Deputy Contracts Manager – Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust - Lifetime Achievement
Sylvia received this coveted award to acknowledge her remarkable journey at the Trust, which is an inspiring testament to her unwavering commitment, dedication and passion for infection prevention and healthcare cleanliness. She began her career at Whiston hospital as a laundry assistant at the age of 16, exhibiting diligence and determination from the outset. Over the course of an exceptional 49 years of service, Sylvia has exemplified the highest standards of professionalism and has been instrumental in shaping the cleaning services across the organisation. Under Sylvia's leadership, the Trust has achieved a remarkable 100% in their cleaning audit scores for the past seven consecutive years.
Blackpool Victoria Hospital Cleaning Team – Cleaning Team of the Year
The 200-strong group of domestics at Blackpool Victoria Hospital is a tight-knit team that consistently goes above and beyond - demonstrating dedication to both the Trust and its patients by always delivering high standards of cleanliness, even during challenging circumstances. The award was given for their overall team commitment, with their response to a big challenge called out in particular, when in November 2023 a critical incident unfolded at the hospital. Following a flood and catastrophic power failure in the Women’s and Children’s Building, the cleaning team worked tirelessly to prepare the site for patients’ return despite a lack of electric lighting and short daylight hours.
Antoniya Zaeva, General Manager, Ealing Hospital – Leadership of the Year
Antoniya was rewarded for consistently showcasing exceptional leadership qualities that have made a lasting impact on the hospital's cleaning team and the broader environment. Antoniya leads with understanding, patience, unwavering dedication and inspiring guidance. Her commitment to excellence sets high standards not just for the service she oversees, but also for herself and the team. Her achievements include leading the implementation of NHS Cleaning Standards across the contract, fostering a collaborative approach alongside the Infection, Prevention and Control Team and refining the structure of the cleaning audit software used on site.
Paula Brooks, Cleaning Auditor, Sherwood Forest Hospital – Auditor of the Year
Paula received this award for demonstrating unwavering commitment to excellence in her role as an Auditor - she works tirelessly to ensure that the Trust exceeds the National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness. Judges acknowledged her for having true dedication to training and education. She actively participates in microfibre training for new starters, ensuring that the Domestics team is well-versed in correct methods and standards from the very beginning. Furthermore, Paula extends her expertise by training buddies within the team, promoting consistency and high standards across the board. This commitment to education is not limited to her immediate team; Paula has also conducted training sessions for Infection Control and delivered talks to Trust members.
MyPorter Awards Medirest winner
Kabiru Ogundipe – Porter of the Year, London North West University Healthcare Trust
Kabiru has worked as a Porter for over 10 years and has continually proven his dedication and commitment to his role, establishing himself as a reliable, trustworthy, and dependable team player. Kabiru’s knowledge of the hospital and the crucial role that portering plays is unparalleled. He received this award for outstanding efforts in supporting the clinical team in critical emergency situations.
Russell Blake, Managing Director - Healthcare at Compass Group UK & Ireland, commented: “These awards are so important, in acknowledging the hard work and significance of cleaning and portering teams. Without them, hospitals and clinical teams could not function, so they play an integral part of patient care.
Our organisation is made up of thousands of amazing people, who do a remarkable job every day, so I am very proud of our winners for being recognised across these awards for their dedication. Well done and thank you.”
Sylvia Sinclair, Deputy Contracts Manager – Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust said: “Winning this award is a really special moment for me and our team. We work hard to make sure patients get the best treatment possible, so to be given a Lifetime Achievement award is fantastic. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone I work with at the hospital.”
Medirest, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, operates across 23 NHS partner healthcare Trusts, employing several thousand employees to deliver the very best standards in services such as catering, cleaning, portering and security.
Medirest also made the shortlist for several categories:
MyCleaning
Glen Page, Domestic Supervisor - The Newcomer of The Year
Antonella Garofalo – The Domestic of the Year
Babita Gurung – Domestic of the Year
MyPorter
David Etches – Outstanding Contribution to Patient Experience
