Gloucestershire ambulance manager wins national award for outstanding service
The outstanding service given during the Covid-19 pandemic by a manager from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) has won her a national award.
Katie Rankin, 42, from Churchdown, Gloucestershire, was recognised for her outstanding administrative service at this year’s Ambulance Leadership Forum Awards, hosted by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives in Leicestershire in September.
Katie was nominated for going over and above her County Business Manager role to support SWASFT’s Gloucestershire team in the County Co-ordination Centre (CCC). Due to vacancies caused by maternity leave and sickness, she almost singlehandedly managed the centre throughout the pandemic.
The centre managed issues like the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and Covid-19 tests as well as supporting staff welfare through difficult times.
Katie says: “I feel very honoured and humbled to receive this award. I was working with colleagues who were working unbelievably hard every day to respond to patients, in very worrying times, and I feel they all deserve an award.
“I very much enjoyed building up the County Co-ordination Centre with the management team in Gloucestershire. It was a massive challenge and it was a difficult time but it was important to me that I felt I was making a difference and contributing during a moment in history. I just wanted to do my best for everybody”.
Stephanie Bonser, SWASFT County Commander for Gloucestershire, says: “Katie was a huge support to me personally during the Covid-19 pandemic – she offered support and guidance well above her role as well as managing her normal workload and maintaining her usual high standards.
“She was flexible with working hours and often finished late, despite having two school-age children and significant building works going on at home! I am so proud that Katie’s hard work has been recognised on a national level, it’s fully deserved and I would like to again offer my congratulations.”
Now working as Resource Operations Centre manager in Bristol, Katie’s commitment, compassion and hard work continues to make a huge positive difference to patients, team members and to the wider organisation.