Two Trust judges have talent
Date of release: 9 November 2023
Two judges in the first joint talent show for healthcare workers have urged staff to show off their skills – with one taking the lead as a ‘pretend Proclaimer’ in a previous life!
Lorraine Jones and Dr Brian McKaig
Dr Brian McKaig, Chief Medical Officer at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), and Lorraine Jones, Tissue Viability Manager, are the two RWT-based judges who will form the deciding panel at the Trusts’ Got Talent show. This is taking place along with staff from Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust at Rushall Labour Club on 1 December.
The event encourages staff from both organisations to step into the limelight and impress judges with their talents. Previous acts – when this was a Walsall event prior to greater collaboration between the Trusts – have included comedians, singers, dancers and magicians.
Dr McKaig and Lorraine, who are both based at New Cross Hospital, will join Walsall Healthcare-based judges Garry Perry, Associate Director – Patient Relations and Experience, and Dr Esther Waterhouse, Consultant in Palliative Medicine.
And they are relishing their chance to be in the hotseat again after being centre stage themselves a while back.
“When I was a medical student, I did an elective period in Australia and went with a mate called Dougal,” recalled Dr McKaig. “It was 1989 and The Proclaimers were really big at the time.
“The first night we were there, we attended the Australian Students Association Conference and there was a talent show.
“Suddenly, someone came up to us and said ‘you’re on seventh!’ I replied that we hadn’t entered but we sang a Proclaimers song and we won!
“Being Scottish, we really hammed up the accents and after it, we dined out on that for the whole three months we were there!”
Dr McKaig added: “Trusts’ Got Talent is a good opportunity for staff to engage and socialise outside of work, as well as meet other colleagues from other teams and show off their talents.
“We know there are lots of talented people at RWT and we want to showcase that. Walsall has been doing this for a few years so we want to put on a good show too.”
Lorraine said: “When I was about 12 my mum had to sew the costumes for a dance show I was in for the Helen Richards Dance Academy at Castlecroft, although sadly not very well as my derriere was exposed on stage!
“I’ve recently started to learn tap dancing again and I love live entertainment. I feel extremely honoured to be asked to judge and I also like to support the Trusts’ charities.
“Our workforce is highly skilled and it will be so rewarding to see some showcase their special additional talents.
“I look forward to embracing my inner ‘Amanda Holden’ and I predict I will shed a tear of pride at some stage of the evening!”
Tickets, priced £12, are available by calling 01902 694473 ext. 84473, or emailing rwh-tr.fundraisingteam@nhs.net or pop into the RWT Charity office, off A27 Outpatients at New Cross Hospital, Monday to Friday, 9am-3pm. Acts wanting to take part should use the same contact details.
There will also be food, a disco and bar till late. Doors will open at 7pm. An um Bongo a Bingo session for those aged 16 and over will follow.
