EMPLOYEES who are the lifeblood of health services in Sedgefield borough have been rewarded for helping to improve the care of patients in the area.

Sedgefield Primary Care Trust (PCT) held its first awards ceremony this week to honour workers who have made an outstanding contribution to health services in the area.

Gloria Wills, chairman of the PCT, said: "The PCT Life Awards were developed to highlight areas of excellence and service improvement that are being achieved in the Sedgefield area, and to acknowledge the high level of commitment of our local health care professionals and support staff.

A special prize - The Alan Gray Award for Excellence in memory of the PCT's former chairman who died in April - was presented to Sue Burnhope and Tanya Wainford by his widow, Joan Gray.

Together they are instrumental in ensuring that patients with complex healthcare needs are cared for in their own home for as long as safely possible, often working with other agencies to co-ordinate all aspects of care.

ROLL OF HONOUR

Working Together/Bringing Services Together - Winner: Jeanne Everett and Louise Booth, Lympoedema Service. Runner-up: Liam Redden and district nurses, Tremeduna integrated team. Other nominees: Carol Bean, Primary Care Development Facilitator

Improving Health Services - Winner: Jan Connor, matron and team, Sedgefield Community Hospital. Runner-up: Gill Reeves, clinical lead, school nursing. Other nominees: Katrina Denton, health visitor; Tracey Wilkinson, primary care project manager.

Improving the Health of the Local Community - Winner: Public Health Improvement Team (Phit). Runner-up: Greg Henderson, physiotherapist. Other nominees: Sheila Smith, advocate; Clair White, office manager with the Phit team; Dr R Pounder; Andrea Howarth, nursing auxiliary; Elizabeth Maw, optometrist; Susan Lee, health improvement facilitator; Tracey Wilkinson, primary care manager.

Getting Closer to the Public - Winner: Linda McCann, West Cornforth practice manager. Runner-up: Patricia Poinen, health visitor. Other nominees: Tremeduna integrated team; Jenny Madden and Karen Curry, health visitor and family support worker; Pat Dixon and Janet Robson, health visitor and family support worker.

The Alan Gray Award for Excellence - Winner: Sue Burnhope, continuing care co-ordinator, and Tanya Wainford, continuing care advisor.

Long-service awards, for staff with 25 years NHS service - Hilda Allen, Olywn Arnell, Heather Brewster, Angela Bryant, Valerie Douglas, Ann Greenwood, Lynda Kell, Alyson Learmonth, Martin Monoghan, Kathleen Newell, Barbara Parker, Jean Sturgess, Norma Siddle, Debra Williams, Audrey Woods, Kath Vasey, Cate Woolley-Brown, Mary Burdess and Maureen Robertson.