HOSPITAL and healthcare staff are receiving a bespoke pin badge designed by Teesside artist Mackenzie Thorpe in recognition of their work during the pandemic.

The South Tees Hospitals Charity teamed up with Mackenzie Thorpe and volunteer-run UK recognition campaign Pin Your Thanks to present a bespoke pin badge to every member of staff across its hospitals and healthcare services.

The Pin Your Thanks People's Medal will be awarded to staff in recognition of their unfailing dedication, hard work and support for patients, service users and each other during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mackenzie has kindly given his time free of charge to create the special badge artwork as his way of saying thank you for everything local healthcare teams have done during this challenging time.

He said: "South Tees Hospitals really are the beating heart of our community, caring for us and our loved ones in times of need and never more so than during this last year.

"Like all of us I stand in the shadow of their greatness and will be forever in their debt, so I was honoured to be asked to be involved in the design of this pin and help, in a small way, to show my deepest gratitude to all."

The badge design is based on Mackenzie's ‘Duffle Coat Child'.

Ben Murphy, head of South Tees Hospitals Charity said the badges were a way of offering 'a heartfelt thank you' to all the staff for their work during the pandemic.