Medirest colleagues recognised at national Cleaning and Porter awards

Medirest colleagues have been rewarded for their dedication and the impact of the work they do within domestic and portering services at this year’s annual MyCleaning and MyPorter Awards,which took place on the 25^th and 26^th February respectively.

The awards are organised in collaboration with NHS England and receive hundreds of entries from across the UK’s healthcare sector. The awards recognise the unsung heroes within healthcare, shining a spotlight on the great, essential work they do. 

MyCleaning Awards

• Domestic of the Year – Elzbieta Biel (Ela), University College London Hospital 

Biel is an extraordinary example of dedication, resilience, and professional excellence. As a key member of the hospital’s cleaning team, Biel’s contributions go far beyond expectations, creating a safe and welcoming environment for patients, families, and staff. She is based in the Grafton Way Building at UCLH, home to Proton Beam Therapy and haematology wards and theatres, where cutting-edge technology meets compassionate care. Having battled her own cancer treatment, Biel has been recognised for her unwavering commitment and empathy, shown through meticulous attention to detail and constant high standards of cleanliness and safety.

• Auditor of the Year – Elaine Farmer, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS FT

Farmer won the title of Auditor of the Year for living and breathing her mission to raise and maintain cleanliness standards at the Blackpool Victoria Hospital. She takes pride in her work – attention to detail and outstanding performance has stood out throughout her long career as a domestic in operating theatres – so much so that she was handpicked by the senior management team to be trained as a cleaning auditor. She upskilled and embraced the changes, taking on more responsibility and building relationships to ensure open communication, as well as inspiring others.

MyPorter Awards

• Lifetime Achievement Award – Alan Sutton, Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 

Alan Sutton, Portering Supervisor, was recognised for his extraordinary 44 years of service to patient care at Mersey West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. His commitment, empathy, and leadership have made a profound and lasting impact on countless patients, families, and colleagues. Sutton’s role extends to some of the most delicate moments in patient care. His work in the bereavement and mortuary services demonstrates an extraordinary sensitivity and respect for grieving families. His actions consistently embody the values of compassion, professionalism, and excellence, making him a truly deserving candidate for the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

Medirest, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, operates across over 20 NHS partner healthcare Trusts, employing several thousand employees to deliver the very best standards in services such as catering, cleaning, portering and security.

Commenting on the awards, Russell Blake, Managing Director – Healthcare at Compass Group UK & Ireland,said: “It is brilliant to see our people recognised across the roles of portering and cleaning. They do critical work and without them, hospitals could not function, so they are integral to patient care. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved, our teams at Medirest are very proud of our winners and finalists.”