Today, Tuesday 4 July, Matt Vickers MP welcomed two local NHS Champions to Downing Street, where they enjoyed a drinks reception in No.10 hosted by Health Minister Steve Barclay.
No. 10 held the event in celebration of the NHS 75th anniversary, which is celebrated on Wednesday (5 July). The reception was attended by champions from across the country who had been nominated by their respective MPs.
Matt Vickers nominated Dr Ben Prudon and Jeff Dixon from North Tees Hospital to attend the ‘NHS Champion’ event, thanks to their outstanding efforts to support the health and wellbeing of their communities.
Dr Ben Prudon is a respiratory consultant at University Hospital of North Tees, part of the team recognised for their outstanding role played during the Covid pandemic.
Ben led the respiratory research team throughout the pandemic, where they became the first in the UK to trial a specific treatment for treating Covid-19 patients. REGN-COV2 was the first Covid-designed treatment, as previously only techniques to treat other diseases had been used.
Jeff Dixon works as a porter in North Tees General Hospital, a job which is essential to the smooth running of the hospital.
Working in North Tees for the last three decades, Jeff has stuck by the Hospital Trust through it’s highs and lows.
Speaking after the event, Matt Vickers MP said:
“I am honoured to have welcomed our NHS champions to Westminster for the day.
“Each of our nominated champions have dedicated a lifetime of service to our NHS. Without commitment and dedication, our NHS wouldn’t exist.
“It is crucial that we acknowledge and celebrate those at all levels within the NHS, who have given so much of their own time, innovation and expertise into making Stockton a safer and healthier place to live, work and thrive.
“I hope they enjoyed their time in Downing Street and of course meeting Steve Barclay. A day to remember.”
The Community Champions programme was created to celebrate people who work at all levels of the NHS. Champions are leaders who are constantly striving to improve the standards of their local NHS Trust, through passion, skill and knowledge.
