STAFF at Dorset County Hospital who provide excellent customer service have been recognised in a new rewards scheme.

The first recipients of the Dorchester hospital’s WOW! Awards were presented with certificates by chief executive Jean O’Callaghan.

Patients and colleagues nominated staff throughout the hospital for the national awards scheme and 21 hospital employees were selected.

Their names will also now go forward for consideration in the national WOW! Awards.

Mrs O’Callaghan said: “Those staff who received certificates were judged against nominations from large national companies as well as other NHS organisations, so it is a major achievement.”

WOW! Awards certificates will be presented to hospital staff each month.

Nominations can be made by picking up a leaflet from hospital departments and wards or online at www.dchft.nhs.uk/wowawards.html.

The recent winners were: Jane Wraight, upper GI nurse specialist; Alistair Downton, emergency department nurse practitioner; Dr Adeel Ghaffar, diabetes consultant; Annie Freak, senior sister emergency department; Dr Mike Bayne, oncology consultant; Helen Elliott, Ridgeway Ward deputy sister; Jenny Scarff, emergency department nurse practitioner; Pauline Kirtley, Ridgeway Ward staff nurse; Tammy Pay, Lulworth Ward staff nurse; Denise Dargan, Lulworth Ward healthcare support worker; Konstantinos Papadakis, obstetrics and gynaecology doctor; Annette Hillcox, emergency department receptionist; Julie Sims, emergency department receptionist; Lara Webster, Lulworth Ward junior sister; Sandi Minhinnick, dental surgery assistant; Sandy Smart, Prince of Wales Ward staff nurse; Kerry England, ICT trainee; Abigail Orchard, lead cancer nurse; Martin Wills, porter; Ann Kirby, nurse specialist dermatology and Jody Moore, Lulworth Ward healthcare support worker.