Hospital staff recognised for outstanding care

Oxfordshire doctors, nurses and other hospital staff were honoured for their outstanding care and treatment of patients at a gala event at Oxford Town Hall on Wednesday 7 December 2016.

Around 280 people attended the Oxford University Hospitals Staff Recognition Awards event, and were able to congratulate winners as varied as the therapist who introduced the first video-based therapy for children with congenital facial palsy; the people responsible for the Trust’s new ambulatory and discharge services; and a woman who has volunteered at the John Radcliffe Hospital for more than 30 years.

The finalists were selected from an unprecedented 850 nominations from colleagues and patients. 

Opening the event, the Trust’s Chairman, Dame Fiona Caldicott, said: "Our continued success as an organisation stems, in no small way, from the motivation, dedication, collaboration and resolve of our wonderful staff, working together and supporting each other… all making such a vital collective contribution in delivering care and keeping everything going each and every day." 

One of the highlights of the evening was the naming of the first Patients' Choice Award winner, chosen by a selection panel of patients from 247 nominations for staff at the Trust's four hospitals: the Churchill, Horton General in Banbury, the John Radcliffe and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.

The new award was won by Children's Cardiac Liaison Nurse Kathy Lurcook, Senior Paediatric Staff Nurse Georgie Stepney and Cardiology Consultant Elizabeth Orchard. They were nominated for their outstanding treatment of a baby born with a congenital heart condition, and the support they gave to his family.

A Special Recognition Award was made to staff involved with the operation of our Liaison Hub, which is achieving significant and sustained results in improving hospital discharges and supporting the provision of care outside of our hospitals. 

Dame Fiona highlighted the work and achievements of staff delivering gynaecology and maternity services, who have been faced with significant changes and upheaval in recent months. Staff from both our John Radcliffe and Horton sites are working extremely hard to support the changes in service provision.

OUH Chief Executive Dr Bruno Holthof said: "These awards are a highlight of my year. They provide an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding care provided across our four hospitals and in particular all those OUH staff who go above and beyond what is expected of them. Tonight's winners demonstrate that this approach to excellence and compassion is a common factor across the Trust.

"Tonight is also special because we have our first ever winners of the Patients' Choice Awards. The large number of nominations and the heart-warming stories that we have heard are testament not only to the amazing work that our staff do, but also the high regard in which they are held by our patients and the public."

A full list of winners

Award for Excellence
Jenny Black
Preoperative Assessment/Aural Care Nurse
Specialist Surgery Nursing, John Radcliffe
Jenny was nominated for putting patients at the heart of everything she does and continuously going the extra mile to ensure everything is in place for her patients' surgery.

Award for Care and Compassion 
Alberta Bussett
Anatomical Pathology Technician
Clinical Support Services, John Radcliffe
Alberta works with the Paediatric Pathologists on autopsies and has the difficult task of preparing the bodies of babies who have died, doing so with immense compassion and sensitivity.

Award for Supporter of the Year
Joy Money
Volunteer
Joy has been volunteering at the John Radcliffe for 33 years, offering therapeutic hand massages and reassurance to patients.

Award for Leadership
Liz Hobbs
Supported Hospital Discharge Service, John Radcliffe
Liz has made the hospital discharge service a major success, collaborating effectively with other organisations.

Award for Outstanding Achievement
Linsey Davis
Sister, Acute Ambulatory Unit, John Radcliffe
Linsey has led a nursing team that created the Trust's new ambulatory service.

Award for Quality Improvement
Sarah Kilcoyne 
Facial Therapist, John Radcliffe
Sarah, a Facial Therapist, has produced the first reported video-based teaching of facial exercises for children with congenital facial palsy.

Award for Team of the Year
Oxfordshire Children's Diabetes Service 
John Radcliffe and Horton
The team were nominated for their outstanding teamwork in pursuing excellence.

Special Recognition Award

Liaison Hub 
John Radcliffe

Patients' Choice Award

Gold award:
Kathy Lurcook, Georgie Stepney and Elizabeth Orchard 
Children's Cardiac Nurse Specialists and Cardiologists, Medicine, Rehabilitation and Cardiac Division, John Radcliffe Hospital
Nominated by a mother whose son was born with a congenital heart condition. They were praised for their “exceptional compassionate care”.

Joint Silver award:
Prof Stephen Westaby, Dr Oliver Ormerod and Team
Cardiology, Medicine, Rehabilitation and Cardiac Division,
John Radcliffe Hospital
Nominated by a woman who, having developed critical aortic stenosis, received the first open-heart surgery on a pregnant woman in the UK.

Sam Wakefield 
Anaesthetics, Clinical Support Services, John Radcliffe
Sam conducted CPR and called 999 when a fellow cyclist suffered a heart attack, accompanying him to the JR.

Bronze award:
Carol Thurgood
Therapy Radiographer
Radiotherapy
Surgery and Oncology Division
Nominated by for her kindness and compassion to a patient undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer.