A HOSPITAL porter renowned for his ‘genuine care and compassion’ to patients has been nominated for a national award.

John Jackson, 57, is the first East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust employee to be shortlisted in the NHS England Kate Granger Compassionate Care Awards.

Mr Jackson, who lives in Oswaldtwistle and works as a night porter at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, has been nominated in the ‘individual’ category in The Kate Granger Compassionate Care Awards.

They are named after the late Dr Kate Granger who worked tirelessly to raise awareness around compassion in the NHS.

Mr Jackson has been shortlisted for the difference he makes to patients’ lives in hospital and the role he plays in the trust’s new bereavement service.

As part of his position, he takes deceased patients to the mortuary and ward staff have been consistently impressed with his attitude and the way he shows dignity to patients and their families, accompanying them to the mortuary and reassuring them that he will take good care of their loved one.

Mr Jackson is well known within the hospital for his interaction with patients, ensuring others follow his example which he sums up as ‘treat others as you would like your family to be treated’.

As part of his role, he takes deceased patients to the mortuary and ward staff have been consistently impressed with his attitude

He said: “I am so honoured to be shortlisted for this award but I really believe that I am only doing my job.

“I believe that everyone is an individual whether living or not and I move and talk to every patient like I would my own mother, compassion, dignity and respect are of the utmost importance to me.”

Dr Granger was able to select the shortlisted nominees shortly before she died last month and this year saw a rise in entries.

The winners will be announced in Manchester on September 7.