Star treatment for outstanding medics at Hospital Heroes Awards

Hospital workers from across the county united at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in Parks Road to praise the unsung heroes of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust (OUH).

Cheers and applause echoed throughout the museum’s lecture theatre as the winners of the Oxford Mail’s Hospital Heroes awards were revealed.

Diabetes consultant Dr Garry Tan and the Churchill Hospital’s renal and transplant teams were chosen out of 10 incredible finalists to be crowned our Hospital Heroes of 2014.

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Speaking at the ceremony, chief executive of the trust Sir Jonathan Michael said: “The Oxford Mail is a great supporter of the trust and our services.

“The Hospital Heroes campaign and medical awards have been a wonderful way for members of the public to highlight teams and individuals who have gone that extra mile.”

Dr Tan, based at the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, was nominated for the Hospital Heroes Individual Award by William Brown, after the medic helped control his diabetes.

Dr Tan said: “I’m a little bit overwhelmed. It’s a real honour.

“I’m very much here as part of a team. I’m so delighted for the team, because it’s never an individual, it’s always a team.

“It’s a lovely event and I think it just highlights the amount of work that’s done around the trust. I think the ceremony was a very happy and positive experience.”

Medics from the renal and transplant teams were nominated by Kevin Beach for the Team Award, as thanks for the support staff provided to him while he battled kidney failure.

Mr Beach said: “It was fantastic. It’s been a good way to finish off our two-year journey. I would put a nomination in every year if I could, because it’s still ongoing.”

The chef, from Bicester, also praised the team for the support they provided to his partner, Karen Gomme, after she donated her kidney to save his life.

Matron Jenny Hayes said: “I think the greatest award is to Kevin’s partner, doing what she does. To give a kidney and give that lease of life is far greater than anything we could do.”

Anaesthetist Aoife Fitzgerald also attended the prize-giving evening, after she was nominated by Joanita Jesudason, 39, for putting her at ease throughout vital surgery when she was 19 weeks pregnant. Dr Fitzgerald said: “It was such a nice event. I did not know that this kind of thing occurs and it’s amazing.

“I feel really pleased, really touched. I would never have expected anything like this. It was really great.”

The Oxford Mail teamed up with the trust for the second Hospital Heroes awards, which celebrate the excellent work of medics and their teams.

The trust runs Oxford’s John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals, as well as the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and Banbury’s Horton General.

More than 150 guests gathered at OUHT’s annual Staff Recognition Awards on Wednesday, where Hospital Heroes and internal trust prizes were handed out.

For more on the trust’s Staff Recognition Awards, see the Oxford Mail next week

DIFFICULT TASK TO CHOOSE THE WINNERS

FOR the past five weeks, the Oxford Mail has been talking to finalists and those who decided to nominate them for their fantastic support.
To celebrate the work of hospital staff, readers were invited to nominate employees who
had made a real difference in their lives.
Months were spent searching for our Hospital Heroes of 2014, after nominations opened in July.
Readers proposed their medical champions in two categories – the Hospital Heroes Team Award and the Hospital Heroes Individual Award.
Oxford Mail editor Simon O’Neill and trust chief executive Sir Jonathan Michael then united for the tough task of selecting just one winner for each category.

Trust chief executive Sir Jonathan Michael judged the awards along with Oxford Mail editor Simon O'Neill

While visitors anticipated the names of our winners during Wednesday’s ceremony, Mr O’Neill told guests it had been a “very difficult” task to pick the winners from the 10 shortlisted entries.
He added: “These exceptional awards give us an opportunity to feature the excellent work that goes on in our hospitals every day.”
The awards were launched last year, when the Oxford Mail joined forces with the trust to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the NHS.
Nurses, midwives, consultants and the behind-the-scenes staff were recognised for the support they had provided to cancer, diabetes, maternity, neurosurgery, neonatal and transplant patients of all ages.

'DR TAN WAS MY SAVIOUR'

BUS driver William Brown, from Kennington, nominated diabetic consultant Dr Garry Tan for the Hospital Heroes Individual Award.
The 60-year-old lost his bus driving licence, after almost 40 years of service, when his GP deemed him unfit for work in July 2012.

Oxford Mail editor Simon O’Neill with Dr Garry Tan, winner of the Hospital Heroes Individual Award

But, thanks to the care of Dr Tan, Mr Brown, who drives Stagecoach’s 1 service between Oxford and Blackbird Leys, returned to work 14 months later.
He praised the specialist, who is based at the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, for helping to stabilise his blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

LIFE'S A BEACH, THANKS TO CHURCHILL

CHEF Kevin Beach nominated the Churchill Hospital’s renal and transplant teams, who had helped him battle kidney failure.
The 44-year-old was handed a lifeline when his partner of five years, Karen Gomme, saved his life by donating a kidney in September 2013.
And, thanks to the life-changing support provided by the teams, the pair underwent successful transplant surgery.
Now Mr Beach is fighting fit, despite having to attend hospital appointments every two months.
He said the pair were supported throughout the ordeal by all the hospital’s employees, including medics, caretakers, catering staff and receptionists.

Renal and transplant team members include matron Jenny Hayes, front centre, and, from left, Sandra Dix, Nicola Douglas, Simone Empson, Michael Kensington, Tara McGee, Nicola Hayward and Clare Fisher

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