A Research Matron from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust represented the North West at this year’s Women of the Year Luncheon & Awards Ceremony.
The annual awards aim to highlight and celebrate the achievements of exceptional women across the UK while helping to raise funds for their chosen charities, which includes NHS Charities Together.
The ceremony marked its 40th anniversary this year, as it returned to the Hilton Metropole Birmingham on Friday 1 April 2022, after it was suspended for the past two years due to COVID-19.
This year, the Women of the Year Luncheon & Awards presented a special accolade to the Women of the NHS, in recognition of their unwavering dedication, commitment and compassion to society.
An inspiring group of NHS workers which included nurses, midwives, consultants and surgeons collected the award, having been chosen by Chief Nursing Officer for England, Ruth May, and her team from specialist healthcare areas.
One of those selected to attend was Lancashire Teaching Hospitals’ Research Matron, Katrina Rigby, who was nominated to Ruth’s team by Professor Alex Heazell, a Senior Clinical Lecturer in Obstetrics and Clinical Director of the Tommy’s Stillbirth Research Centre.
Katrina said: “It’s was a privilege to attend these prestigious awards. Research has been at the forefront of the pandemic and I would like to pay tribute to all those who have taken part in studies to help us discover new treatments and new evidence base to improve health outcomes.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Zalena Vandrewala, Chair of the Awards, said: “We are delighted to welcome such an inspiring group of women to accept this award on behalf of the Women of the NHS. 2020 marked the Year of the Nurse and the Year of the Midwife, which we were unable to celebrate at the time due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is therefore incredibly fitting to welcome NHS nurses and midwives to today’s ceremony and give them the recognition and thanks they deserve.
“The Covid-19 pandemic placed unfathomable pressure on the NHS and we are in awe of the unfaltering commitment and dedication of the women here with us today. They represent thousands more female workers across every sector of the NHS, who work relentlessly, day in and day out, to provide life-saving care, treatment and support to those in need. It is a real honour to welcome them to today’s ceremony and this award represents our immense gratitude and respect for all that they do.”
