Liz awarded top medal for dedicated NHS work

HONOUR . . . the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Warren J Smith, with Liz and her husband Andrew

AN OLDHAM churchwoman who has spent her career in the NHS has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her work with hospital chaplains and bereavement teams.

Elizabeth Robinson, known as Liz, is an active member of the Church of the Nazarene on York Street in Oldham town centre, where her husband, the Rev Andrew Robinson, is the minister.

She has received the British Empire Medal for her health service work which included setting up a hospital bereavement team and managing the hospital chaplaincy at Leighton Hospital in Crewe.

She was supported in her work by the hospital's chief executive and deputy director of nursing, who recommended her for the honour.

She received the medal from the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Warren J Smith, during a ceremony at Manchester Town Hall on Tuesday where she was accompanied by her husband.

Mrs Robinson (62) said: "I was really delighted to be given the BEM. I was sent a letter about it, which came as a lovely surprise. It's a real privilege to be acknowledged in this way."

She added: "I've had different roles in the health service over the years. I used to work in Manchester for the strategic health authority and then got a job at Leighton Hospital. I became the bereavement manager at Leighton Hospital. I set up the service, with the help of others, and managed a team of chaplains there.

"Bereavement support and chaplaincy work is really important to hospital patients, families and staff. It provides great comfort and support for people facing all kinds of circumstances."

Originally from Falkirk in Scotland, Mrs Robinson and her husband have been at Oldham's Church of the Nazarene for five years.

She is involved with the church management team and the couple live in Reddish.