Grantham Journal Big Interview: ‘Bringing happiness to everyone he meets’

This year we saw some truly deserving winners at our Grantham is Great Awards.

To highlight their amazing achievements, we are going to feature them each week in The Big Interview. First up is Kevin Young, who won the Service with a Smile award.

Kevin is a chargehand porter at Grantham Hospital, and is always seen with a smile on his face. His nominator said: “He always cheers people up and cracks a few jokes, which makes people feel happier when they are often in pain or require medical attention. He is one of those characters that brings happiness to everyone he comes across, and does everything possible to help. He is also an on-call firefighter at the Grantham station.”

* How did it feel to be nominated, and to win, the Service with a Smile award?

I was surprised, humbled and excited. On winning I felt very proud and was pleased to be part of a portering team that prides itself on putting the patient first.

* What does your job entail?

My job is to run a shift where I look after a team of porters and delegate out jobs to ensure smooth running of patient services. I’m also hands-on, moving patients to their appointments.

* What do you enjoy most about your job, and why does it make you smile?

The best part of my role is serving my community, by helping patients, visitors and colleagues, and being able to give a smile to make the day better for others.

* How do you feel about being part of the Grantham Hospital team which was also nominated for the Compassion in Care award?

I love being part of a big family at the hospital, that wants to do the best for the patients, and being part of a portering team that looks after each other as well their patients.

* And you are an on-call firefighter, too?

Yes, I respond to a pager when there is a need for fire rescue within the community. I also have a weekly drill night where I meet up with the others and do training to keep up our skill levels. This keeps us updated on any new ways of working. The calls I’ve been to include the flooding at Long Bennington, fire at Ancaster’s recycling plant, road traffic accidents on the A1, as well as rescuing a cat out of a tree in Grantham!