Prince Harry presented a prestigious award to a member of staff from Manchester Children’s Hospital, after she was nominated by a child patient.
The Prince was at the high-profile awards ceremony in London as patron for WellChild, a charity which offers care and support to sick children and their families.
He personally presented a Special Recognition Award to Janet Concannon for her work as a Health Play Specialist, helping children cope with pain or anxiety during their time in hospital.
Prince Harry said: “I am humbled by the people and children I meet. You guys are awesome.
“The stories we have heard tonight are moving beyond words. They remind us of the utter insignificance of our everyday worries.
“Yet, one of the things that always stands out is the positivity shown by those in the most difficult and testing circumstances.
“It is heartening to hear so many stories of happiness and hope, even through the dark times.”
The 31-year-old Prince is a regular attendee of the annual awards ceremony, which celebrates the courage of seriously ill children and honours the medical professionals who care for them.
Mrs Concannon was selected from hundreds of people across the country for going the ‘extra mile’ for children and young people in her care.
She was nominated by 13-year-old Brooke Taylor, whose complex medical condition means that she has needed many operations at the hospital.
Brooke said: “Janet loves her job. She tells me often and it is clear to see. She treats me as if I’m her only patient.”
Brooke said she appreciated that way Janet treated her as a teenager rather than a child, acting as her voice to make her views known to other health professionals.
As well as advocating on behalf of older children, Janet also uses therapeutic play activities to prepare younger patients for treatment.
WellChild’s Director of Programmes Linda Partridge said: “It is a tremendous challenge selecting winners from the many, many truly amazing nominations we receive from across the UK.
“All the panel members are moved by the dedication of the doctors, nurses, teachers, brothers and sisters who make a great difference to the lives of children with serious illnesses or complex care needs.”
