A HOSPITAL worker has been hailed as a "health hero".

Healthcare assistant Lorraine Watkins has won the latest Health Hero Award at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) for her commitment to patient care.

Lorraine works in the theatre department at the hospital in Gobowen and was nominated by four of her colleagues in the urology team.

She said: “I’m so overwhelmed to have been named as the latest Health Hero.

“I absolutely love working on the urology list so to have been nominated by the rest of the team really means a lot to me.

“We work so well together as a team and I definitely couldn’t do my job without them so a huge thank you to them all.”

Her nominations came from Mr Joy Chowdhury, clinical lead and consultant surgeon in spinal injuries; Dr Stuart Bowdler, consultant anaesthetist; Cath Williams, senior operating department practitioner; and staff nurse Ruth Griffiths.

Dr Bowdler said: “I am always especially impressed by how good Lorraine is at talking to and reassuring patients, which is a difficult quality to teach but hugely important from my point of view as an anaesthetist.”

Cath added: “Since Lorraine started in Theatre she has become an integral part and highly-valued member of the team, where she consistently demonstrates her commitment and depth of knowledge beyond her role.”

Ruth said: “Lorraine is regularly on the urology list and makes a fantastic contribution towards the smooth and efficient running of the list, she is always aware of what is required and eager to perform any tasks.”

Mr Chowdhury said that Lorraine had become a valuable member of the urology team, to the extent that when she is not on shift her absence is tangibly felt and when she’s on shift, efficiency automatically improves.

Lorraine's award was presented by RJAH chief executive Mark Brandreth.

He said: “From Lorraine’s reaction when I presented her with the award, it was clear to me how much it meant to her.

“Lorraine’s commitment to our patients is an inspiration to us all. The respect she has from her colleagues comes across loud and clear in her nominations.

“I want to thank Lorraine for the contribution she is making to the delivery of world class patient care and I am delighted to announce her as June’s Health Hero.”