First Recipient of Crown Lifetime Achievement Award Announced

Crown Records Management has celebrated its 25th anniversary by teaming up with the Institute of Health Records and Information Management (IHRIM) – also in its Diamond Jubilee year – to launch a lifetime achievement award for an individuals’ significant contributions to health records management.

The award was presented to Lorraine
Nicholson, chief executive of IHRIM,
who collected it on behalf of
Margaret Ryman, the recipient.

The accolade’s first recipient is Margaret Ryman, whose career encompasses time at Southport General Infirmary, the Liverpool Radium Institute and Omskirk General Hospital. She has long been an active supporter of the IHRIM, attending the inaugural meeting of its predecessor the Association of Medical Records Officers (AMRO), leading regional training courses and working to raise the profile of medical records management as a profession.

As Medical Records Manager at Ormskirk, Margaret dedicated much of her time to staff training and gave regular lectures to the School of Nursing on the importance of accurate record keeping and the need for co-operation between medical and clerical staff. She was invited to sit on the hospital’s Ethical Committee at the invitation of its consultants and also assisted the transition to computerised records throughout the North West region.

Now retired, Margaret continues to contribute her skills and knowledge by volunteering at the Queenscourt Hospice in Southport, as well as supporting numerous community initiatives and charity events.

The award was presented by Frank Hopping, Managing Director of Crown Records Management, at the IHRIM’s Diamond Jubilee dinner on 7th October 2008. He said: “Margaret is a very deserving recipient of the first Crown Lifetime Achievement Award and her many achievements speak for themselves. Her commitment to educating others has without doubt helped the profession to progress to where it is today and she has assisted the implementation of some major changes over the years.”

Lorraine Nicholson, Chief Executive of the IHRIM, added: “Margaret has been an inspiration to me and many of my colleagues throughout our careers. She has always carried a torch for the NHS and has acted as a staunch supporter of the IHRIM since its inception. It was an honour to see her receive such a well-deserved award.”