A deaf nurse from Bury who supports other deaf adults hospitalised for their mental health has scooped an award for promoting diversity and equality.
Vicki Wakefield, 33, is the clinical team leader at Cygnet Hospital in Bury.
She has been recognised for her outstanding care and compassion at Cygnet’s annual nursing awards.
Read more: Fundraiser launched to save engineering workshop
She won the diversity and inclusion award and was recognised alongside other nurses from across Cygnet health and social care services.
The Cygnet Nursing Conference and Awards took place last week at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.
Vicki said: “I’m over the moon to win this award, promoting diversity and inclusion is something I’ve been working on for years.
“Thank you to Cygnet for recognising all of my work that I’ve put in.
Read more: Team behind coffee shop set to open ‘hidden bar’ in Prestwich
“I want our deaf service to get the recognition it deserves and also for our deaf service users to get the right support that they need to have equal opportunities.
“Now I get to go back to my deaf colleagues and deaf service users and show that if I can achieve something, they can too.”
Nominating Vicki, the team at Cygnet Hospital Bury said: “Vicki has overcome so many barriers to communication and obstacles to her career progression with a smile on her face and compassion in her heart.
Read more: Bury's Elbow headline opening show at Co-op Live arena
“Vicki embodies all of the right values and is a trusted colleague who supports her team.
“She inspires through her hard work and dedication to fulfilling her role to the best of her abilities.
“She is an excellent communicator and bridges the gap between deaf and hearing staff and patients in a professional and effective manner, enhancing a bi-lingual and bi-cultural environment.
“We are lucky to have her.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here