Nassrat Bi Wins Dame Barbara Windsor Award

Nassrat Bi was announced as the winner of the Dame Barbara Windsor Award at ITV Good Morning Britain’s (GMB) 1 Million Minutes Awards

Bluebird Care Birmingham East and North Care Assistant Wins Dame Barbara Windsor Award

Nassrat Bi has worked as a Care Assistant at Bluebird Care Birmingham East and North for almost three years. She was announced as the winner of the Dame Barbara Windsor Award at ITV Good Morning Britain’s (GMB) 1 Million Minutes Awards on Friday 18 December.

The GMB 1 Million Minutes Awards aim to celebrate the unsung heroes who have helped others. The Awards ceremony was hosted by Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway.

Nassrat Bi works as a care assistant specialising in palliative care at Bluebird Care Birmingham East and North and was crowned the winner of the Dame Barbara Windsor Award at ITV Good Morning Britain’s (GMB) 1 Million Minutes Awards.

Nassrat Bi's own father died after contracting COVID-19 this year but after a very short period of leave she returned to work to support the dying and their families.

Barbara Windsor’s husband Scott Mitchell, who was a judge on the awards panel, honoured Nassrat for her sacrifice in a personal video message broadcast on TV.

Scott Mitchell told her: “When it came to you and your story, nothing could have been more poignant for me at that moment because I know you support people going through palliative care and their families.

“It’s incredible and I don’t think there are great enough words for you.

"I know what it takes to sit next to someone at end of life and just have a comforting reassuring word coming from the carers. Just to watch your loved one, be comforted, be cared for and the relief that that gives you.

"I don't know what to say to you apart from thank you for your courage, your compassion. I know Barbara would have adored someone with those qualities.

Scott Mitchell tells Nassrat: 'I thought I would be too emotional'

"And I can't believe that only a week ago she was still here and now she's not. I don't think I can still believe it to be honest with you.

"One other thing about your story which gave me the courage today to do this video for you and that's when I was first asked, I said I thought I would be too emotional, in too much of a state to be able to do it.

“And I remembered the part of your story where your own dad had passed away from COVID, and my condolences to you, and after a very short time off you insisted on going straight back to work to care for other people and to care for their families.

"And I don’t think there’s a more noble quality or act than that".

https://youtu.be/WTaPibDIdNw

Nassrat Bi has worked for Bluebird Care for almost three years. Nassrat Bi said: “It’s a bittersweet moment. I would like to offer my condolences to Dame Barbara Windsor’s family and friends, who have lost a special one.

“Dame Barbara Windsor was an icon who worked tirelessly to highlight and bring forward awareness of dementia in the elderly.

She added: "I’m lost for words.”

TV and film actress Dame Barbara Windsor - best known for her roles in EastEnders and Carry On films - was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2014 and died at the age of 83 in a care home in London on 10 December.

Her family felt it would have meant a lot to the much-loved actress to continue the award in her name.

GMB’s ‘1 Million Minutes’ campaign encourages viewers to pledge 60 minutes of their time to help a friend or someone in their community who is lonely. This can be done individually or by volunteering with one of the 1 Million Minutes charity partners. Now in its 4th year, to date, viewers have pledged over 150 million minutes.

GMB host Kate Garraway's own husband Derek Draper was admitted to hospital with COVID-19 symptoms on March 30 and remains seriously ill.

Hosting the awards ceremony, she told Nassrat Bi: “We are not surprised you won this award; you are absolutely extraordinary.”

A spokeswoman for Bluebird Care said: “From the outset of the pandemic, Bluebird Care Birmingham East and North were astounded by Nassrat’s commitment to caring for others, and her ability to put the needs of her customers before her own.”

Suresh Dakshinamurthy, director at Bluebird Care Birmingham East and North, said: "We are really proud of Nassrat, who really deserves this award.

“Looking back through 2020, it’s been a difficult year for all as everyone has had issues in one or the other way.

“But Nassrat had a more difficult year with losing her dad to COVID-19. But these awards recognise all care staff who are going above and beyond."

The family member of a customer who was looked after by Nassrat, said:

"The family are very happy with all of the lovely carers in the highest esteem, but Naz had that special relationship with mum and knew how to calm her by holding her hand or stroking her head. On the night call if there was time, Naz stopped to talk with mum, they cried and laughed together. Naz knew when to leave her be if mum wasn't in the mood. She also held eye contact constantly which was critical as she was so deaf and when people were wearing masks, mum was even more scared of them. Well done to you all and to Naz for raising the issue of care and dementia alongside winning this award and hopefully everyone in this sector will now get the respect and recognition that they deserve."