Hospital technician Ken Knight today (Thursday, November 30) received a special award from the University of Sunderland for his services to the health profession.
Ken, who also graduated from the University of Sunderland today, played a key part in developing a training programme at City Hospitals Sunderland, which has had a major impact on staffing levels for the hospital’s new operating theatres.
Over the years Ken has invested a lot of time and effort in the programme, which has helped the hospital bridge the skills gaps. His input into this unique programme of training has allowed many previously untrained staff, mainly technicians, to assist surgeons and anaesthetists with intricate patient care.
The training has allowed people who were initially unfamiliar with theatre operations to work in a very specialist and high pressure area.
The first class that Ken undertook consisted of ten students. The second class was made-up of twenty and these were aimed at filling the technical roles that were required for the new operating theatres that were built at the hospital in 2005 and 2006.
Ken’s work in this area has not gone unnoticed by the university and today it awarded him the Alumnus of the Year Award – the first time this award has been given. It is awarded to graduates for their exceptional contribution to the community.
Ken said: “I was totally surprised when I was told I was receiving this award. But I am honoured, especially as it is the first time it has been given.
“Though I have moved onto working for the Health Professions Council in my spare time now, I had spent a lot of time on the training programme and I am delighted to say it has made quite a difference. In the 1980s there were a lot of people being made redundant from high profile jobs and they were forced to take lower level positions. I wanted these people, who had obvious skills, to fulfil their potential.
“The training created a fountain of opportunity for lower level staff and an answer to the shortage of operating theatre practitioners for the hospital. Some people who once stacked shelves are assisting surgeons and anaesthetists and the new operating theatres could not have been manned without those who had undergone the training programme.”
Ken received his award from university Chancellor Lord Puttnam at the annual winter awards ceremonies at the Stadium of Light.
Lord Puttnam said: “Ken is someone for whom lifelong learning has become much more than a personal commitment. He has used the skills he gained while studying here at the university to benefit both his colleagues and his community.
“Ken’s work in encouraging a learning culture within our local hospitals provides an inspiration to educators everywhere and I am delighted to have been able to present him with the Alumnus of the Year Award.”
Ken graduated today from the university for the second time, having received a BEd (Hons) in Education and Training from Sunderland in 2004.