Published on: 31 October 2019

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Pictured: Acting Chief Executive Dr Damian Riley presents the Employee of the Month award to (left-to-right) Receptionist Lesley Eland, Christine Barnes-Clark and Sharon Cunliffe

A trio of quick acting nurses working at Accrington Victoria Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit came to the rescue to save the life of a local resident who had collapsed in a nearby street have been honoured with East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust’s latest Employee of the Month award.

Sharon Cunliffe, Christine Barnes-Clark and Tracey Stephen were called into action when the elderly man collapsed on the street outside the Minor Injuries Unit after suffering a cardiac arrest. Used to dealing with cuts, sprains and minor ailments, the trio were unfazed by the major emergency and quickly put their lifesaving training to use and began CPR (cardiac pulmonary resuscitation).

As a result of the trio’s intense efforts, the patient regained consciousness and was transferred by ambulance to Blackpool Victoria Hospital to continue his recovery.

“Tracey, Sharon and Christine showed excellent team work, leadership and compassion,” says Matron Lesley Gaw, who nominated the nurses for the hospital’s top employee award.

“All the values of ELHT were put into practise; the team put the patient first, they truly served the community and acted with respect and compassion.”

Following the unexpected emergency, Christine, Tracey and Sharon resumed treating patients for their minor injuries. Following his recovery and discharge from hospital, the patient visited the Minor Injuries Unit to personally thank the nurses for saving his life.

Sharon, Tracey and Christine are now on the shortlist for the ELHT ‘Employee of the Year’ award to be presented at the Trust’s STAR Awards ceremony in spring 2020.