UNISON want to hear about your public service champion - £300 to be won! NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

The team at UNISON is putting the call out for your very own champions of public services in the UK – who do you want to show your appreciation to?

They say "Our public services are in crisis. Comment, tweet, campaign, vote, say thanks – but whatever you do, back your public service champions now.

“We can all relate to being under pressure and having to put a brave face on. For public service workers this has become part of daily working life, but now the crisis in our public services is so bad many of them are at breaking point. They are telling us about their struggle to support the schools, health and social care services, libraries, youth services and policing that our families and communities all depend on.

“Every day thousands of people turn to mumsnet for support, so what better place to get behind our public service champions and show them some love? This is your chance to share stories of how a public service champion has made a difference to you. Thank the teaching assistant for giving your DC the confidence to put their hand up in class. Shake hands with the police community support officer who keeps your neighbourhood safe. Show the care worker who helps your nan get up in the morning some appreciation. It doesn’t matter what you do to support them, it just matters that you back your public service champions now.”

So to get involved, you can do two things. One, post on this thread some info about the public service champion you want to thank – you don't have to give their name but just let us know briefly what they do and what this means to you. Or, two, you can get involved at: champions.unison.org.uk/.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will get two £150 Love2Shop vouchers (which the winner can either keep or split with their nominee!)

Thanks and good luck

MNHQ

Mumsnet Insight T and Cs apply

My doctors they are so understanding.

the registrar who helped me register my father's death was marvellous. I was in pieces and she was fantastic - really professional but also sympathetic and kind. She really made a difference to me that day. Thank you to everyone who does a job like that - it's a routine bit of paperwork that she must do countless times to her but she really realised it was a very different experience for me,

The fantastic home birth midwifes who delivered my son. Great team so mother and child focused. Wonderful to get midwifery care in your own home. A very positive birth experience.

Children's centres - amazing

I nominate anyone who works in NHS.
My mum was given s unexpected diagnosis of incurable cancer a few months ago - since then she's received amazing care and through tirelessly trying to find the primary (they haven't) they have managed to control and kill most cells and have surgery booked for her.
She's gone from having maybe a few months to years hopefully.

Don't know if this counts but the CMS people are incredibly polite & helpful. the policies & procedures they have to follow are rubbish & ineffectual but that's not their fault

I would like to nominate my mum, who has worked as an outpatients receptionist in a busy and pretty grotty inner city hospital, for 30 years.
She often gets abuse from patients, even when she is trying to help them. I know she goes the extra mile every day to re arrange appts, squeeze people in, help the elderly with transport, taxis, etc, answer a myriad of questions, give reassurance and genuinely help everyone she meets. She's a champion amongst many in the NHS, and she's proud to be a part of (what's left) of it.

I won't mention his name, but the surgeon who operated on me when I had major spinal surgery, as well as a number of other less extreme procedures on my spine, has given me back at least some sort of life/freedom, and he has my complete respect and gratitude. From being completely unable to walk to now being able to drive and walk (albeit short distances and on large amounts of medication) it has made a huge difference to my life and the lives of all of my family's.

Absolutely the NHS - after a recent op I cannot believe the dedication and love that so many NHS staff put into their work despite the pressures on them every day.

However I'd also like to advocate for my own profession, the schools Careers Services that have been cut beyond all recognition at a time when young people need them most. There have been so many redundancies and many advisors have accepted huge pay cuts to stay in the profession. This is out of dedication to what we do in supporting young people with very difficult decisions, often against the advice of teaching staff who may not understand the full implications for the future. So here's to the Careers Advisors cos probably no one else will!

UNISON have spotted a few comments about individual experiences with UNISON reps and do apologise for this - they say "sorry if any Mumsnet members feel let down by UNISON. If any Mumsnet member would like to talk to someone at UNISON, please contact us directly so that we can look into it for you - you can call UNISON on 0800 0857 857 or private message us on Facebook: facebook.com/unisontheunion"

I would say my son's food tech teacher. As well as teaching after school classes so that all the students who want to can have a place on the course, she runs his cadet platoon and is the Duke of Edinburgh expedition coordinator, all for no extra pay. She has made such a difference to the kids at the school and has changed my son's school experience from one where he lacked confidence and was unhappy to one where he is seen as a good role model for younger students, and supports teaching the cadets alongside her. His leadership skills have developed because of her faith in him and being given responsibility. She is a real asset to the teaching sector.

My stoma nurse who has tirelessly visited me, pushed for me to be rehoused, holds my hand and is the happy smiling person I need now I am so ill.
They have extended her area, told her to release patients into clinic and pressurised her and yet she is a phenomenal nurse who has kept me going and taken the time to explain what is happening to me to my children.
I couldn't be without her.

All those who work in the frontline of the emergency services (NHS, Fire Service and Police) who have to make difficult decisions daily and cope with incredible pressure. I couldn't do it!

The NHS and childrens services. My boy is having extra help at school and we have received nothing but positive and helpful assistance with this.

London Ambulance Service (indeed probably all ambulance services/paramedics).

I'll never forget the health visitor who helped with my daughter when she was born in 2010. DD was unwell when she was about 10 days old; the doctor at OOH told us it was a cold and she'd improve as long as she kept feeding. But she wouldn't feed; she was listless and wouldn't feed for more than a few seconds at a time.
A day or two later, I rang the health visitor desperate for help, and when I described DD's breathing, she convinced me to ring my usual GP , who sent an ambulance responder (I was recovering from the C-section). The paramedic put an oxygen mask over DD's face, and I watched her whole body go from a greyish-blue colour to a healthy pink. She had bronchiolitis, and the staff at the children's hospital were all brilliant for the duration of her 5-night stay - but the health visitor deserves huge thanks for realising how seriously ill DD was and for making me do something about it in my post-natally depressed haze.

I caught up with her about 18 months later and was able to thank her in person.

I would like to nominate the domestic violence advocates and team that work with Sussex police and also the Sanctuary charity that helps make victims houses safe for them to continue living in. These services are free of charge, they offer support and education, advocacy in court and home safety amongst other things. Their team are friendly and understanding and do an excellent job.

So many can't get it own to just one individual. While I've had unhelpful and seemingly uncaring encounters the greater majority have been so considerate and reassuring when times looked bad that's when individuals/teamwork really shines through making me value what we have and worry about losing it.

The NHS staff who kept me alive after giving birth and let my DD have a mum.

The NHS for sure, I wouldn't have been a mummy without them! They put up with so much criticism and still do a wonderful job for all, Hats off to them!

The NHS. I'm grateful for this FREE service. When I talk with my family and friends who live in the States about healthcare, the eye watering amounts they have to pay for medical insurance for something you may not use often. The NHS isn't perfect, as I have experienced as a staff member and as a patient. However,, the fact that I don't have to compromise my health because I'm worried about how I'm going to pay for it is a big plus. It may not stay free for ever but I am grateful for it.

It would have to be my own GP - immensely supportive and nothing too much trouble. Truly goes over and above to help. Despite grumbles generally amidst the system there are people within that system who are worth their weight in gold- we should not forget individuals.

the nursing team who smiled and kept my daughters spirits up during her recent stay in hospital were amazing.

I also really feel for the staff that have to run elections (not the politicians) but the ones that end up having to work 24/7 to get the election running and votes counted etc when regard isn't given to them when an election is called at short notice!

My GP at the local practice, who picked up on my mum's breast cancer when she was complaining about minor symptoms such as tiredness and a shooting pain. I am so grateful that she was so attentive and took my mum's concerns seriously even when she played down the discomfort. Others may have dismissed her symptoms as worry but she sent my mum for a mammogram. Her breast cancer was picked up at stage 2, before it spread to her lymph-nodes. She has just had surgery and is starting radiotherapy soon but thankfully doesn't need chemo and is expected to make a full recovery. I will be eternally grateful to my GP for her intelligent caution and for saving my mum's life.

THE NHS!!!!!!!