Thousands of staff at Watford General Hospital were treated to a late summer barbeque – as a thank you for the care and dedication they provide to patients through the year.
Volunteers from the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) charity cooked up around 2,500 burgers for nurses, doctors, and support staff on Thursday lunchtime.
Workers tucked into beef and vegetarian burgers, nachos, salad and drinks as they took time out to enjoy a well-deserved break.
The event, which was funded by RRT, recognised the progress teams across West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust had made in improving patient care.
This included a dramatic improvement in Accident and Emergency waiting times over the last two years, as the Trust has risen by almost 100 places in national league tables. It is now one of the Top 10 best performing in the country. That means more patients are being treated, more quickly and with better health outcomes.
"We’re so pleased to be able to thank staff for everything they do and to reflect on the progress we’ve made together,” said, Kelly McGovern, chief nurse.
"Working in a hospital is hugely rewarding but it’s also challenging, pressurised and demand continues to increase for all our services. Our teams work hard, and with real passion and dedication – so to be able to recognise their efforts with an event like this is wonderful.
"I’d like to also thank the brilliant and very generous Rapid Relief team who organised this event for us. They are superstars."
Harry Read, Local Team Leader, for RRT, said his team of 40 volunteers had enjoyed the day.
"It’s always special to see the smiles we put on people’s faces and it was a pleasure to come to Watford today and thank NHS staff for all the brilliant work they do.
"The biggest barbeque I had organised before today was for around 500 people, so today was a bit more of a challenge and we had multiple barbeques all going at the same time, and a well drilled production line. I’m glad it went so well."
Established by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC) in 2013, RRT offers quality catering assistance and tangible support to charities, government and emergency services at times of need. Led by the Christian principles of care and compassion, its army of volunteers operate from the heart to serve people in need and has worked with a number of NHS Trusts.
