AN NHS trust that manages services in Northwich and Winsford has been given a prestigious honour in the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoPSA) health and safety awards.

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT), which runs Victoria Infirmary in Northwich and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford, as well as Leighton Hospital in Crewe, achieved gold standard in the annual awards, which is open to businesses both in the UK and overseas.

Now in its 61st year, the awards scheme looks at the occupational health and safety management systems of the entrants, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement, with those that fulfil the strict criteria then given an award (either merit, bronze, silver or gold standard).

This is the first time the Trust has entered the awards. Having achieved the highest award possible for a new entry, the organisation can now be considered for further categories in future.

Wendy Astle-Rowe, health and safety lead at Mid Cheshire Hospitals, said: “Receiving the gold award is an incredible achievement for the Trust and it is also great news for our staff and local community.

“This award shows our organisation has excellent health and safety management systems in place, that we have a rigorous approach to occupational health and safety, and that we have low levels of accidents and work-related ill health.

“We would like to thank all of our colleagues for helping to make Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust a safe place to work and for their contribution to this award.”

Wendy was among the Trust’s employees who were presented with the award during a ceremony in Birmingham last month.

Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of awards and events, said: “The RoSPA Awards are the most prestigious in the world of occupational health and safety, and held in high regard around the world, as winning one demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to maintaining an excellent health and safety record. Achieving the standard required is no mean feat. This is a special year in the history of RoSPA, and we congratulate all of our winners in this, our centenary year.”

This award is not the only recent achievement for Mid Cheshire Hospitals: earlier this year the Trust, in partnership with the University of Chester, won a Student Nursing Times Award for its work in supporting former nurses to return to practice.

In March, the Trust also achieved the best results of all acute trusts in the national NHS Staff Survey. It was rated in the top 20 per cent in 16 out of 32 areas, including staff recommending the organisation as a place to work or receive treatment.