A Stepping Hill Hospital volunteer has been shortlisted for a top regional health award for his outstanding commitment which includes travelling hundreds of miles each week to help out patients.

Bill Mckenna has been shortlisted for the Greater Manchester Health and Care Champion Awards in the ‘Dedication to Volunteering’ category.

Once a week Bill McKenna makes a 160 mile journey from his home in Llandudno over to Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport and back again to keep up his commitment to support staff and patients on the ward.

Bill has been volunteering at St Thomas’s Hospital, Cherry Tree Hospital and now Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport for over 38 years. He did not want to let his retirement to Wales stop his commitment to the patients of Stockport, and so has kept up his commitment despite the lengthy journey.

Bill works on a medical ward helping with meals, making tea, and generally being a reliable, friendly face to talk to with patients and their families, making their stay more less worrying and more comforting.

He also helps out at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Wales, in its busy A&E department, and helps with the Blind Veterans UK charity too.

Yvonne Hewitt, voluntary services manager at Stepping Hill Hospital says “Bill has gone not just the extra mile but hundreds of extra miles to help, he is an excellent support for both patients and staff, and I’m delighted he’s been recognised in this way.”

The Greater Manchester Health and Care Champion Awards 2018 are the first Greater Manchester-wide awards to recognise members of our paid and unpaid workforce who regularly go above and beyond to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Greater Manchester. The final winners will be announced in July.

Jon Rouse, Chief Officer of Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership said: “I would like to congratulate every single individual and team that has been nominated for an award. Just to be nominated is a real achievement in itself and is recognition of the difference these people are making in their communities.

“The Champion Awards were introduced to give our health and care workforce the recognition they deserve for going above and beyond, and the number of nominees received demonstrates the wide range of brilliant work taking place across Greater Manchester.

“I would also like to congratulate the 33 outstanding nominees who have been shortlisted. We received so many impressive nominations, making the task of shortlisting extremely difficult for our panel. I would like to wish all 33 nominees the best of luck ahead of the ceremony in July.”