RUH staff celebrated for award-winning achievements

The highest quality of care, compassion and innovation was recognised at the recent annual staff awards ceremony for the Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH) NHS Foundation Trust.

Winners of the You Matter Awards were selected from over 200 nominations in seventeen categories, thanking staff for their exceptional dedication to people they care for, the people they work with and people in the wider community.

The Hospital at Home team won the Working Together Annual Award. This award recognises the exceptional teamwork which supports many of the people we care for to continue to receive medical treatment, oversight and diagnostics in the comfort of their own home, rather than spending more time in hospital. The results are incredible, by being cared for at home, patients recover faster and better. And they've had amazing feedback too – 99.5% of patients said they would recommend the service.

The Making a Difference Award was awarded to Paediatric Diabetes Administrator Molly Priestley. Molly was praised for taking a truly person-centred approach for families, especially in ensuring that alternative options are found when people call to reschedule appointments. As a result, the rate of missed appointments has dropped from highs of nearly 20% some months, to single figures now.

Molly ensures that young people aren't scheduled for appointments during exam periods and that children from disadvantaged backgrounds won't be missing free school meals.

Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Kim Gupta won the Lifetime Achievement Award. The RUH has benefited from Kim's expertise since 1999, alongside his kindness and compassion. His clinical contribution has been significant, including driving outstanding progress in organ donation at the RUH. Under Kim's leadership the RUH has consistently exceeded national performance indicators in this area, ultimately saving many lives.

Other award winners included:

• Senior Clinical Practice Facilitator Ruel Donaire who won the Kindness and Civility Award for being a passionate advocate for the RUH's international colleagues, going above and beyond to ensure they feel valued and included
• The Research and Innovation Award, sponsored by Health Innovation West of England, was won by the team behind the Breast Cancer Genes and Me, Digital Patient Empowerment Project, a first of its kind approach which has opened up cutting-edge diagnostic pathways for the people we care for
• The Personal Achievement Award, which was won by Research Database Manager Charlotte Cavill, who led a team introducing a healthcare app to better support rheumatology patients.

Staff were also recognised for 25, 35 and 45 years of service.

This year also saw the first winner of a new Sustainability Award, which was won by Speciality Doctor Liz Brown for her work to reduce the use of single use plastics and educating and motivating others to champion sustainability.

Alison Ryan, Chair, said: "It's always a huge privilege to celebrate some of the many achievements at the RUH at our annual awards ceremony. Our vision is for the RUH to be a place where every single person matters, and our colleagues are the people who make that a reality.

"I am so proud of everyone at the RUH - it's been a real honour to be able to thank people for their hard work and dedication, for their exceptional patient care, commitment to innovation and improvement, and fantastic teamwork.

"On behalf of our Board of Directors I offer our warm congratulations to all our winners, and those who were nominated or shortlisted too."

The full list of winners:

• Volunteer of the Year Award winner - Emergency Department Volunteer Andrew Edwards
• Student of the Year Award winners - Lead Pharmacy Technician for Operations Sarah Thompson and Electrical Apprentice Reece Paginton
• Working With Our Community Award winner, sponsored by apetito - midwife Emily Williamson in the Lotus midwifery team
• Sustainability Award winner - Speciality Doctor Liz Brown
• Patient Safey Award winner – Pain Clinic sister Roisin Davis
• Corporate Services Improvement Award joint winners - People Programme Partner Hannah McCoid and Business Intelligence Unit team - Charlie Gale, Shaun Lomax, Annika Atkins and Frances Cathcart-Burn.
• Research and Innovation Award winner, sponsored by Health Innovation West of England - Breast Cancer Genes and Me, Digital Patient Empowerment Project team.
• Personal Achievement Award winner, sponsored by J4 Projects - Research Database Manager Charlotte Cavill
• Wellbeing at Work Award winner - Clinical Practice Facilitator Ruby Sejas
• Kindness and Civility Award winner - Senior Clinical Practice Facilitator Ruel Donaire
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award winner - Clinical Practice Facilitator JJ Estose
• Rising Star Award winner - People Advisor Kerrie Baker
• Leader of the Year Award winner, sponsored by Linea - Senior Sister Sam Rye
• Lifetime Achievement Award winner, sponsored by Electrio - Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Kim Gupta
• Everyone Matters Annual Award winner - Cardiac ward Senior Sister Katie James
• Making a Difference Annual Award winner - Paediatric Diabetes Administrator Molly Priestley
• Working Together Annual Award winner - Hospital at Home team

Two awards which had been presented earlier in the year were also celebrated:

The 2024 Lindsey Dow Trainer of Year Award, which was awarded to Abi Jenner, Associate Specialist, in recognition of her outstanding commitment to going above and beyond to teach oncology registrars. And the 2024 Improving Patient Experience Award which was won by the Maternity Triage Team in recognition of the improved process introduced for those who need urgent care during or after pregnancy. The team listened to its community and introduced a single point of access for all enquiries, which has received really positive feedback.

Winners of the RUH's 2024 Nursing and Midwifery Awards were also acknowledged.

As well as dedicated sponsors for some awards, several other organisations sponsored the event on the night. We are very grateful for their support:

• allmanhall
• Athera Healthcare
• Bevan Brittan
• JP Services South West limited
• KP Wilton
• Locum's Nest
• Phare Health
• RUHX
• Saba Park Services UK limited

ENDS

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