The Countess of Chester Hospital has been celebrating its foundation doctors this week as a number of them prepare to move on to pastures new.
The Trust’s Medical Education team held its fourth annual awards event to acknowledge their achievements, with ‘Doctor of the Year’ awards and a ‘Player’s Player’ as well as presentations for some of the tutors.
This week sees the second year foundation doctors complete this phase of their training, with many now moving on to other Trusts and others staying at the Countess to start in their chosen specialties.
Dr Ian Benton, Director of Medical Education, said: “We are immensely proud of our junior doctors and this was a great way of thanking them for all their hard work over the last 12 months.
“The last year has been an extremely challenging time, however they have continuously shown great professionalism, dedication to their patients and their own learning. We wish them the very best for the next stage of their careers.”
Dr Fraser Cameron, who will stay on at the Countess to work with the colorectal surgeons, was named ‘Foundation Year Two Doctor of the Year’ after impressing his colleagues and other hospital staff with his friendly, diligent and professional approach.
“All the guys I work with are a very good bunch so to be named as one in particular is quite a big honour,” he said. “Although it’s a very busy hospital it’s still got a special family atmosphere with everyone looking out for each other. When times are hard that’s what helps to get you through and that’s what I like about this hospital.”
The ceremony, which was supported with prizes and catering provided by Mollington Banastre Hotel & Spa Chester, also included a ‘Player’s Player of the Year’ award. This special gong was nominated for and voted by all the foundation doctors across both years.
Dr James Warwick, who is the Chester representative on the Mersey Junior Doctors Committee of the British Medical Association, won the ‘Player’s Player’ after providing an invaluable role keeping everyone up to date during the junior doctor’s contract dispute.
He said: “All of the staff here at The Countess have been wonderful to work with and the senior staff have been so supportive of the junior doctors during what has been a challenging time and I’m looking forward to building on the experience and knowledge I’ve gained as I move into my second foundation year.”
Medical Director Ian Harvey added: “It’s important that we recognise the vital contribution our junior doctors make to providing safe, high quality patient care.
“They are often the earliest representative of the Trust for our patients. This is recognition that they frequently go over and above to deliver high quality care. This group of doctors have been superb during a particularly challenging time.”