A Timperley nurse has been honoured at the annual ‘Women of the Year’ Awards lunch following her work on the night of the Manchester Arena Attack.
Shobha Manesh, 40, is a practitioner in the Acute Block Theatres at Wythenshawe Hospital and was on duty on the night of the attack.
She attended the prestigious ‘Women of the Year’ ceremony in London on Monday where she collected the award on behalf of the Trust, from the Duchess of Cornwall. Shobha was among a group of eight women from Greater Manchester Police, British Transport Police, NHS and North West Ambulance Service recognised at the awards for their selfless professionalism and heroism.
The women of the Manchester emergency and medical services were recognised as a group of winners and were chosen by their own organisations to accept the award on behalf of each and every woman serving in our police, ambulance and health services up and down the UK.
Mandy Bailey, site chief executive at Wythenshawe Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “As soon as Shobha heard of the incident, she began to coordinate with colleagues how best to open the theatres in readiness for the anticipated casualties. She rang her colleagues to bring in extra staff from home, she set up the teams needed, and ensured that the right resources were available in terms of personnel, skill-mix and equipment.
“Shobha liaised with the surgeons and anaesthetists and, despite the short notice and high pressure, was able to have three emergencies theatres running fully staffed; with a fourth theatre on standby.
“She went above and beyond her expected duty and responsibilities to achieve this, and acted in support of both junior and senior colleagues alike. She was truly professional throughout the night and we are very proud of her.”
Shobha said: “I was incredibly honoured to receive this award on behalf of everyone at Wythenshawe Hospital – and all the teams who responded that night. Being a nurse and caring for patients means everything to me and I was very proud to be nominated for doing something that I love.“
