Stellar work on inclusion project lands Chloe an RJAH Stars Award

A “superstar” Communications Manager at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital has won an RJAH Stars Award – in recognition of her outstanding support for one of the organisation’s key diversity commitments. 

Chloe Ellis was nominated for the award after she went “above and beyond” to help drive forward a project to support patients and staff in the LGBTQIA+ community. 

The Oswestry-based hospital signed a covenant with the charity Safe Ageing No Discrimination (SAND) in July, signalling its commitment to understand and respond to the needs of older LGBTQIA+ people in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. 

This has been followed by dedicated face-to-face LGBTQIA+ training, led by a member of staff, Lake Beckley, to help colleagues improve their knowledge and understanding.

And it was Lake who nominated Chloe for the award, having been impressed by her commitment and effort to make sure the initiative was delivered successfully. 

Lake said: “Chloe has been an absolute superstar in terms of helping me with the comms, publicity, photography and everything else that was needed to get the SAND Covenant signed, and the training off the ground. 

“I’ve been so busy with my ‘day job’ on the Apollo Electronic Patient Record project, and it has all felt too full to give this the attention I wanted – but thanks to Chloe, everything is in place.

“Chloe's support means I can meet the commitments to SAND, and roll-out the workshops, meeting my commitment to RJAH. I literally could not have moved forward with this without her.

“Her proactiveness has been really highly appreciated.” 
 
Chloe is part of a three-strong communications team at the specialist orthopaedic provider, which is responsible for all internal and external communications and engagement across the organisation. 
 
She first joined the Trust as an apprentice in 2014, securing a position in the communications team in 2017 as a Communications Assistant and working her way up to her current post. 
 
She was delighted to win the RJAH Stars Award for September, stating: “I’m often the one helping to arrange these awards presentations, so it was a massive but pleasant surprise to be on the receiving end! 
 
“I was proud to support on one of the Trust’s key Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives, and just see it as doing my job – but it means so much to be recognised for that and appreciated.” 

Stacey Keegan, Chief Executive of the hospital, said: “The Communications Team play a key role in day-to-day life at the hospital, and are at the heart of everything we do. Chloe is a talented and enthusiastic member of that team, and so it gave me great pleasure to present her with this award. 
 
“The signing of the SAND covenant was something that is very close to my heart and I am hugely grateful to both Lake and Chloe for the work they have delivered to get us to where we are.”