Twenty incredible NHS heroes have won a trip to Barbados with a guest, after their friends, family and peers have shared their selfless stories. The winners of the Barbados Cares NHS initiative will soon be on their way to the island for a well-deserved slice of paradise once travel resumes. The final winners were all selected due to their extraordinary efforts on the front-line during the battle against COVID-19.
Each winner and their guest will experience a truly memorable seven-night trip to the UK’s number one Caribbean destination and enjoy all that this uniquely special island has to offer.
Since launching on 7 May, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. team has been deeply moved by hearing the stories of so many incredible individuals working tirelessly on the front-line to protect lives across lives across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The initiative has allowed not only for winners to be chosen, but a light to be shined on hundreds of entries which all represent a story of our front-line heroes.
After carefully reading through each and every deserving nomination, and with the assistance of an esteemed panel of judges, comprising friends of Barbados and including household names such as world-renowned DJ Carl Cox, Michelin Star Chef Tom Aikens and actor David Harewood, MBE, the winners have been decided.
Selecting just 20 proved difficult for our judges as every single nominee has gone above and beyond the call of duty during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the judges were in awe of their bravery, kindness and altruism.
Judge, Karen Blackett, OBE commented: “The winners that I have chosen all exhibited passion for their work – it is not a job, but a life mission and a career. They have shown warmth, fearlessness, their willingness to step forward, even at the expense of their own health in some cases and that they work tirelessly for little or no recognition. They genuinely are heroes.”
Fellow judge DJ Carl Cox added, “My parents came from Barbados to the UK where my late mother worked as an NHS nurse while my father worked on the buses. I’ve always kept a connection to Barbados and I was honoured to be invited to support the Barbados Cares initiative. All these entries show how selfless our front-line NHS workers have been at a time of global emergency… They are all heroes… I was only allowed to choose two but everyone is a winner to me.”
Barbados’ NHS Heroes’ Inspiring Stories
Barbados’ intent is to shine a light on these previously unsung heroes who have put their job before their own needs, sacrificing family time, personal plans and life events in order to save the lives of others. Below is a selection of the heart-warming stories of those in Northern Ireland.
Amanda Laing, Staff Nurse (Belfast)
Amanda’s mother, Muriel brims with pride when discussing her daughter and the role she has played on the front-line. Before becoming a nurse, Amanda took a course in barbering, but never imagined the qualification would come into use in the way that it has. After hearing that many doctors were having problems with their PPE fitting correctly due to their hair growing and not being able to have it cut, Amanda sprang into action and set up a barbers salon on the ward, giving free haircuts around her 13-hour shifts on the COVID-19 wards. So popular it became, she had to start taking appointments and has given countless cuts for doctors in all departments. Amanda was due to get married in November this year, but her venue cancelled all 2020 weddings last week, leaving her and her fiancé Ryan very upset. They have rescheduled to 2021, and hope to be able to travel to Barbados over the original date of their wedding to celebrate. Muriel can’t wait for them to have a break and has said she will look after Amanda and Ryan’s two children, Olivia and Harry, who she can’t wait to spend a week with.
Jo Tamms Gregg, Health Visitor (Ballymena)
Jo has always had a ‘can do’ attitude, as shown in her proactive approach to the current situation. As the pandemic hit, Jo contacted her local ICU as she has experience managing a hospital ward as a nurse prior to qualifying as a health visitor. She immediately started working on the unit, fitting in whatever hours she could around her full-time job, which was mainly night shifts. After three weeks, with the situation worsening in the UK, Jo was moved to the ICU on a full-time basis which helped her concentrate on three jobs rather than four! Jo has three children, aged from 11 to 16, all of whom were at home as their schools were closed. Her 16 year old daughter, Emily, nominated her mother as she is so grateful to her for teaching her and her siblings whilst still working, and thinks she is a role model to everyone around her. Emily is not the only one to think this, though, as Jo has been nominated by her Health Trust as a ‘Northern Trust Star’ in recognition of her dedication and sacrifice. In addition to all of this, Jo has an elderly mother who lives alone. As she is unable to see her, Jo makes sure that she speaks to her at least twice a day, and organises friends and family to communicate with her so that she can enjoy an online quiz every evening. So valuable has Jo’s contribution been over the last few months, she has been asked to consider returning to ICU nursing permanently.
Kevin Quinn, Surgical Doctor
Kevin’s fiancée, Vidette, nominated him as he has been working extra shifts and long hours to help those around him. Vidette is a doctor in the NHS too, and due to their different shifts, they have not been able to see each other very much over the past few months. They had to postpone their wedding due to COVID-19, so a honeymoon to Barbados will be just what the doctor ordered once we are able to travel again!
