Apprentice Janine wins national award for her work in the fight against COVID-19

Janine photo

Apprentice Janine wins national award for her work in the fight against COVID-19

Janine Pring, our Respiratory Physiologist Apprentice scooped Gold in the Apprentice of the Year category at the Skills for Health Our Health Heroes Awards. She was awarded for her integral role in keeping staff and patients safe during COVID-19, with the essential fit testing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The awards were held virtually on Tuesday (23 March) and saw more than 300 NHS and Social Care staff come together to recognise, celebrate, and honour the hard work and dedication of healthcare workers across the UK.

On announcing Janine as the winner, Roz Norman, Health Service Group Executive Chair said “This award is so important in continuing to nurture and develop the pipeline of talent and skills within our health and social care workforce. Janine’s extraordinary efforts and hard work to cultivate the skills and knowledge to excel in her career demonstrates just why Apprenticeships are so incredibly valuable and viable paths into healthcare careers.”

Janine was also described as a truly passionate ambassador for respiratory medicine & apprenticeships, who is always caring, empathetic and kind to both her patients and colleagues alike and brings a cheery positivity and ‘can-do’ attitude to all of her work. 

Janine said: Being awarded GOLD for the Apprentice of the Year for the Our Health Heroes Awards is truly amazing! I am so proud of my work and the fantastic team I work with here at North Bristol NHS Trust. Also, being able to recognise the vital role healthcare scientists do as part of the NHS is a true testament to all carers that are not widely thought about within the hospital setting.

Jonathan Hall, Non-Medical Education Manager at NBT said: “Janine is a shining example of an outstanding apprentice. Throughout this challenging year, Janine has continued to put her patients first and drive innovation to improve patient care. She has gone above and beyond supporting other areas of the trust with essential fit testing of PPE for her colleagues. Apprentices like Janine help strengthen and build the future of the NHS. This win is truly well deserved, congratulations Janine.”

Janine fought off competition from two other finalists from across the UK, yet after securing the most support via a public vote, was decided the national gold winner. 

John Rogers, Chief Executive at Skills for Health said: “We will long remember the incredible contribution that our apprentices have made to the workforce this year. The integral part Janine, Isa, and Sofia, and all of our nations’ apprentices have played in the health sector’s ability to continue delivery of services, even under the most extreme circumstances, must be recognised, and serves to reinforce the key supporting role they play across our UK healthcare organisations every day.”

Congratulations Janine, we’re all incredibly proud of your achievements

For more information about all of this year’s Our Health Heroes winners and to watch the ceremony on demand from 24 March, visit skillsforhealth.org.uk.