Sisters just love their hospital jobs - and our Best of Health Awards

Mandy Samuels and Tracey Cox, both from Boldon, are sisters in real life and they have another thing in common - both are supporters of the Gazette’s Best of Health Awards.

The pair spoke to the paper to encourage entries into this year’s competition and also explained more about their jobs.

Mandy is the safe care lead for the discharge team at South Tyneside Hospital. Her role is to ensure the safe discharge from hospital for patients and then help to prevent admissions. She said: “It is the outcome for the patients that I love.”

Mandy’s team, part of a set-up formed 18 months ago, has six senior nurses and one administration worker and works in conjunction with social workers and therapists.

Tracey is the lead nurse for the frailty team and has 36 years of health service experience.

“Frailty is a massive thing. It is high on the Government agenda,” she said. “It causes a lot of admissions to hospital.”

Her job is to “put strategies in place” both in hospital and the community to help the frail from suffering falls and other accidents.

Both welcomed the awards which honour the people who area heroes in the health service.

Mandy said: “It is sometimes forgotten what a great job people do in our profession. They have to go above and beyond.

“People are under immense pressure and it is great that they are recognised.”

Tracey described the awards as “a boost to morale.”

The two sisters are great examples of the fantastic people working in South Tyneside’s health profession and you can put them in the running for honours by nominating them for a Best of Health Award.

The sponsors for this year’s awards are South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, and the Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group.

We thank them all for their fantastic backing and watch out for more information on each in the weeks to come.

In the meantime, we need your entries to truly reward those who deserve praise.

The deadline for all nominations is Monday, April 2, and the judges will meet the following week to decide on the shortlist.

The grand final will be held at the Roker Hotel, in Sunderland, on Thursday, April 26.

To nominate, just send your name, address and telephone number, as well as your email address, if applicable. Remember to include the category you are putting your nominated cause into.

Also send the name of the person you wish to nominate, along with their address, telephone number and email (if known).

Send all the details to Lynn Wild by no later than Monday, April 2.

Email those entries to [email protected] or send them to Lynn Wild, Alexander House, Second Floor, Rainton Bridge Business Park, Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, DH4 5RA.

You can now also nominate by folowing this link to https://www.shieldsgazette.com/healthawards, where you can also find out more about the competition.

GP/ Practice of the Year.

Hospital Doctor of the Year.

Nurse of the Year.

Community Nurse of the Year.

Dentist/ Practice of the Year.

Optometrist of the Year.

Therapist of the Year.

Care worker of the Year.

Dental Nurse of the Year.

Midwife of the Year.

Pharmacist of the Year.

Team of the Year.

Customer Service/ Unsung hero Award.

Long term Achievement.