Bedfordshire Hospitals’ porter Ravi Mahay went to an official reception at No. 10 Downing Street on 24 May. Hosted by the prime minister, the reception was held to thank the efforts of NHS staff throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each NHS trust were asked to nominate colleagues from their organisation to attend.
Ravi Mahay, a charge hand porter at Bedfordshire Hospital, was one of the select few chosen to attend.
Mahay also provides confidential support to fellow staff as a peer-to-peer listener and is a freedom to speak up champion. In the latter role, he supports staff in raising concerns about any risk, malpractice or wrongdoing they feel is harming the service delivered by the hospital.
Thanking his colleagues for nominating him, Mahay said:
“I never thought getting to meet the Prime Minister would be on my agenda for 2021! It goes to show that persistence does pay off and someone does acknowledge the hard work I have been doing.”
Kevan Hughes, site services and security manager for Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, described Mahay’s attendance as a ‘well-deserved honour’, both for the porter and the Trust’s workforce as a whole.
“Ravi and his fellow Porters have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic.
“He has always gone that extra mile to be there to give help and support to his colleagues and our patients throughout these challenging times.”
The marquee used for the event to thank NHS staff was also used by the prime minister at the weekend for his wedding reception, after marrying Carrie Johnson (née Symonds).
