TWO engineering trainers from Derwent Training Association (DTA) have been nominated for a York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Star Award, due to the work they have undertaken in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bob Hardie and Stuart Pitts were nominated by Nigel Watkins, services manager at Scarborough Hospital.

The Star Award seeks to recognise outstanding individuals or teams who have innovated, impressed and made a real difference to how the NHS Trust provides and cares for their patients.

Bob and Stuart’s main role is to train apprentices to become fully qualified engineers, but when the training centre went to remote learning procedures, both volunteered to be part of the estates team at Scarborough Hospital, as well as continuing to progress apprentices with their learning.

Nigel said: “Bob and Stuart volunteered to assist the estates team with our response to Covid-19. They have been a monumental help in the effort to convert several ordinary wards into COVID areas.

“They volunteered at an hour’s notice and have not stopped in their effort to make the hospital safer for staff and patients.

“They have fitted air-con to many areas, coming up with novel designs and solutions to difficult problems. We couldn’t have done it without them.’’

Claire Gavaghan, chief executive officer at DTA, in Malton, said: “I am proud of the work Bob and Stuart have completed in the response to COVID-19.

“They are both modest men and they did not have to volunteer and put themselves in harm’s way, but they responded to the call straight away.

“We did not hesitate to release them to support the work of the NHS in order to do our bit in supporting national efforts, as well as helping in our region as we all have a part to play.

“The board of directors and staff at Derwent Training would like to say thank you to the hard work of the NHS, and all other key workers during the pandemic.”

Bob and Stuart worked closely with Scarborough Hospital’s estates team, as well as their three apprentices Carl, Roxanne and Spencer who all continued to work in Covid “hot” areas to ensure that parents and staff were safe.