Buckinghamshire celebrates this year’s exceptional healthcare heroes

Date: 30/06/2023 | Category: News 2023

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust has kicked off its NHS 75 celebrations with its annual awards which recognise some of its exceptional healthcare colleagues and volunteers.

Winners included the COVID vaccination team and Learning Disability and Autism Liaison Nurses, who set up special vaccination clinics tailored to those with learning disabilities, autism and/or special needs and Senior Parkinson’s Specialist Nurse Liz Scott who was nominated by no fewer than 28 of her patients. A special award also went to the team at Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio to recognise their outstanding contribution over the last 45 years.

Paediatric Nurse Beth Evans won the Aspire Annual Care Values Award for her swift action after spotting a change in baby George’s breathing during a routine appointment when he was just ten days old. Further tests revealed a heart murmur and George was transferred for specialist open heart surgery.

Hollie, George’s mother, said: “Beth saved his life, and we will always remember her for that. There’s no amount of thanks big enough to show what that means to us.”

Consultant Nurse on the Intensive Care Unit Julia Phillips won the CEO Award for Leadership. Julia leads a small team of dedicated and highly skilled individuals who together navigate some of the key life and death moments for our most severely ill patients and their families.

The Trust’s Chief People Officer Bridget O’Kelly said: “I’m very proud of all our dedicated colleagues and volunteers but especially our Annual Award Winners. They are a highly skilled, talented and compassionate group of people who are a real credit to the Trust and the NHS.

“Thank you to all the winners, finalists and all those who submitted a nomination which included patients and members of the public. Thank you for helping us shine a light on some of the amazing healthcare professionals and volunteers who deliver outstanding care to the people of Buckinghamshire both in their own homes and in our hospitals.”

Winners of the BHT Annual Awards:

  • Non-Clinical Service Award: Annie Downes, Assistant General Manager, Cancer Support:
  • Quality Improvement and Innovation: Michelle East, Lead Midwife for Clinical Governance and Quality
  • Equity & Inclusion Award: COVID Vaccination Team and Learning Disability and Autism Liaison Nurses
  • Volunteer/s of the Year: The Intensive Care Unit Volunteers Team
  • Rising Star: Anna Cook, Charge Nurse from Cancer Care and Haematology
  • You Made a Difference Award: Sue Eddy, Specialist Physiotherapist
  • Lifetime Contribution Award: Elaine Steele, Lead Trauma Co-ordinator
  • CEO Award for Leadership: Julia Phillips, Consultant Nurse on our Intensive Care Unit
  • Acute Services Award: Critical Care Outreach Team
  • Community Services Award: Paediatric Outreach Team
  • People’s Award for Personal and Compassionate Care: Liz Scott, Senior Parkinson’s Specialist Nurse
  • Special award for SMHR: A special award to recognise the outstanding contribution over the last 45 years from our Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio team.
  • Annual CARE Values Awards: All colleagues, whatever their role, are encouraged and expected to lead by example living by the Trust’s CARE values of Collaborate, Aspire, Respect and Enable.
    • Collaborate winners: The Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) team
    • Aspire winner: Beth Evans, Paediatric Nurse
    • Respect winner: Chris Cunningham-Oakes, a healthcare assistant in our Surgical Assessment Unit
    • Enable winner: Hannah Goddard, Critical Care Outreach Sister

CEO Neil Macdonald with Julia Phillips

CEO Neil Macdonald with Baby George’s father Cub Llewelyn-Davies, Beth Evans and Baby George’s mother Hollie Llewelyn-Davies

Chief Nurse, Karen Bonner with Liz Scott (centre) and Peter Miller Trustee of Parkinson’s UK

CEO Neil Macdonald, Dez Kay and members of the Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio team

Chief Nurse, Karen Bonner in centre surrounded by the COVID Vaccination team and Learning Disability and Autism Liaison Nurses signing ‘thank you’

Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) team with Trust Chair David Highton

The NHS 75th birthday festivities will continue with an Open Day at Stoke Mandeville Hospital on 29 July 10am-2pm, where all are welcome to enjoy a family day out with food and live music. There will be exclusive behind the scenes tours of the hospital including operating theatres, the mortuary and Horatio’s Garden, as well as numerous information stalls so people can find out more about the healthcare services available to them. A career’s fair and talk will be held for secondary school students while younger children can enjoy fun activities such as exploring a real ambulance or trying out a free dance workshop. Parking on the day will be free.

Find out more: AGM and Open Day celebrating 75 years of the NHS