Bradford Teaching Hospitals Administrator, Catherine Derrick, has been announced as the first winner of Allocate Software’s regional innovation award for helping to make a difference to the Accident & Emergency staff rotas.

Catherine’s efforts in streamlining the electronic eRostering system in what is one of the busiest emergency rooms in the country were praised by the judges at a recent  awards ceremony in York.

Allocate Software chief executive, Ian Bowles, said: “Catherine is among the first to be honoured by these prestigious new awards, for her exceptional work and dedication over the past year.”

Catherine was praised for both her people skills and her skills with HealthRoster in “achieving dramatic changes within the A&E department and getting around 100 staff on board with new ways of working.”

Ian continued: “The changes have enabled more efficient rostering of staff, ensuring that the roster reflects known demand within the department, giving more staff on duty at the busiest times, and less when it is quieter.”

Catherine, from Wibsey, received her prize from former Royal Marine, Lance Corporal Peter Dunning during a ceremony at Allocate’s annual user groups conference on June 12.