A volunteer group who helps patients recover from brain injuries in hospital was presented the highest award at a ceremony last weekend.

Beech Ward and Supportist Discharge Team at Epping Hospital received the CEO Award at The NHS Quality Awards 2019 in Cold Norton.

The team meet with patients once a fortnight to discuss the recovering process from strokes to car accidents and help them reintegrate back into society.

Mark Cadman, 54, from Epping, set up the voluntary group four years ago after suffering a stroke aged 50 as part of this rehabilitation.

Speaking about the reaction upon receiving the award. Mr Cadman said: “There was a lot of crying the nurses, therapy assistants all work hard it was more for them not me.

“The reason that we won is because it’s a great partnership its in the community and partnership between volunteers, the ward and the early supportive discharge team. We weren’t expected to win.”

The glass trophy and certificate were presented by Sally Morris, CEO of Essex Partnership University Trust, which will soon be displayed outside the hospital’s Beech Ward.

Upon discovering they had been shortlisted for the prestigious award, the team was tasked to make a short video to be shown at the ceremony.

Epping Hospital’s Beech Ward was also nominated their teamwork and housekeepers and domestic teams’ awards was also shortlisted but lost out to rivalling groups.

“When we saw the other projects videos, we thought had no chance, so it was a massive surprise to win,” Mr Cadman explained. “It’s a strange thing you go through the night thinking oh we didn’t win that and then it comes down to the final award and it was our last chance left now, it was quite nice to win.

“The NHS said that apart from giving guidance and experience we give the patients hope.”

A trustee of a charity of Harlow Strokes Support Group, Mr Cadman said new volunteers are always welcomed to join.

For more information, visit the Harlow Strokes Support Group website at http://gpca.co/harlow-stroke-support-group/