A FLIGHT crew who worked as volunteers at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust have been shortlisted for Greater Manchester's Health and Care Champion Awards.

The volunteers, Sue Povey, Mia Povey, Katie Mainwaring, Laura Sutton and Fran Grundy, are all members of a Virgin Atlantic flight crew and worked together on Royal Bolton Hospital wards to help out in health care assistant and patient liaison roles.

Also on the short list are cultural support volunteers Hassan Patel and Imran Musa who worked alongside Bolton Council of Mosques to help patients keep in touch with their families.

Looking back on the volunteers' work, ward manager Kim Ashcroft said: "They were extremely supportive, compassionate and caring, and our patients really appreciated having someone to speak to them and help with all the little things that staff don’t always have time to do."

The awards aim to recognise health workers across the city region who work hard to improve Greater Manchester's health and wellbeing, with a particular focus this year on those who have done the most to step up to the challenges posed by the pandemic.

In total, 36 people who work across the NHS, local authorities, charities, care homes have been shortlisted across 12 different categories.

The winners will be announced at a virtual ceremony on Thursday November 11.