Winner: Doreen Foster
Runners Up: Steven Marr, Jaynie Pateraki
Every day, an army of unsung heroes quietly go about their duties looking after the nation’s health, and the Community Pride Health Service Hero Award seeks to celebrate workers in York whose dedication is second to none.
All three nominees are experts in their various fields, and all received praise in their nominations for going above and beyond the call of duty to help patients cope with their conditions.
Steve Marr was nominated for his work with TayCare Medical Ltd and helping children get used to specialist medical footwear, and Jaynie Pateraki was praised for her dedication to her role as a sleep apnoea specialist at York Hospital and her fundraising efforts for the ward.
However, there could only be one winner, and motor neurone disease specialist nurse Doreen Foster stood out to the judges.
Her 16 years in the field has already seen her awarded with the High Sheriff’s Certificate this year, but her dedication to her work and charitable causes, despite suffering from cancer, meant our panel chose her as the 2011 Health Service Hero.
Doreen said: “I knew when I got my disease that I had a chance, but made me feel the impact of having bad news and what difference can be made.
“I have been helped this past year by so many Health Service Heroes, friends and colleagues, I’m not the only one, so this award is really for everybody. I just hope I can make a difference to people who suffer from that terrible disease.”
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