Thank you Karen

Practice manager Karen has a solution for every problem

Karen Auty, practice manager at West View Surgery, South Shields, has been nominated by her colleagues, senior commissioning support officer at South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Nicola Morrow and Everest Mthombeni, Commissioning manager, NHS South Tyneside CCG, for going above and beyond the call of duty.

Nicola, said: “I am nominating Karen because she has provided crucial support to a number of our services, such as the SATS squad, volunteers delivering oxygen testing kits to COVID-19 patients across South Tyneside.

“Karen also ensures the safe running of staff testing and has been crucial in getting the Testing Hub operational in the surgery, ensuring Primary Care staff, Care Home staff and their families are able to seek prompt testing, whilst maintaining the safe running of the practice.”

Everest, said: “Karen is a reassuring presence to both patients and staff and never fails to help when supporting the day-to-day running of the services. She really deserves to be acknowledged for all of her hard work.”

Karen said: “What a lovely surprise to be nominated, I am thrilled. I am simply doing my job but to know that my colleagues believe I am contributing and making a difference is a real boost. The work we are doing is a real collective effort, so I would like to thank all of my team.”

The Mayor of South Tyneside Councillor Norman Dick, said: “On behalf of the people of South Tyneside, The Mayoress and I would like to convey our gratitude to you for your role in supporting the borough during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is wonderful to see key workers at the frontline working in new ways in these unprecedented circumstances. As the Borough’s First Citizen, I would like to say a huge personal thank you for being part of our community and for helping us to address this challenge in an extremely positive way. We are extremely #proud.”