TEAM AWARD

EVERY day, staff at the renal unit at the Churchill Hospital care for more than 90 patients in Oxford.

The team of around 150 nurses and 20 doctors have together been shortlisted for the awards.

They treat patients with kidney problems — which if left untreated can cause poisons to build up in the blood and lead to death — because the kidney fails to filter the blood as it should.

The unit provides dialysis for patients three times a week and kidney transplants for those who can be matched with a donor.

Allie Thornley, 47, is the matron for dialysis and has worked as a nurse in the unit for 23 years.

The mum-of-two, from Marsh Gibbon, near Bicester, said: “I think it is amazing to be nominated.

“It is a great morale boost for the staff and really nice to know patients are recognising the work we are doing to try and keep them well.

“We are very proud of the fact that someone has taken the time to nominate us.

“It is a fantastic team to be a part of.

“We have a lot of respect for each other and recognise we all need each other to work.

“Kidney dialysis and the unit is a specialist area which is not always thought about.”

Patients range from the age of 17 to their mid-90s who could have got kidney failure from a variety of other diseases such as diabetes.

Both Mrs Thornley and doctor on the renal unit Chris Winnearls were named by patients nominating the unit as a team.

Witney resident Lotte Hughes chose the team for saving her life last year.

She said: “I spent nine weeks in hospital with a combination of health crises.

“Dr Winnearls brilliantly discovered what was wrong with me even though it wasn’t his specialism — not renal but endocrinology. The multicultural staff, including staff serving food and the cleaners, went above and beyond duty in their gentle kindness.

“At a time when NHS staff elsewhere are being slated for not showing enough kindness, this needs to be put on record.”

INDIVIDUAL AWARD

HEART doctor Tim Betts is the third of five finalists named in the running for the individual award.
The consultant at the John Radcliffe Hospital was nominated for potentially saving the life of 49-year-old Carl Portman.
The ex-MoD worker from Hanwel, near Banbury, was diagnosed with a heart condition called arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia at the age of 28.
The genetic defect can cause either sudden cardiac arrest or his heartbeat to rocket dangerously.
He put off heart surgery for 12 years until Dr Betts managed to persuade him.
The Implanted Cardioverter Device fitted during the surgery acts as pacemaker and defibrillator in one.
Mr Portman said: “It was a huge turning point.
“I do not let my illness define me anymore.
“Tim is responsible for helping me through significant and continual change in my life and I very likely owe my life to his skills and expertise.
“It has enabled me to continue with my life — to marry the girl of my dreams, to ride with huskies in Norway, to wake to Howler Monkeys in Costa Rica and yes, even to do simple things like walk up the stairs and mow the lawn.”
Dr Betts, from Beckley, said: “I think I should be nominating my nominator, rather than being the nominee.
“I’m very honoured to be chosen to be a finalist. It seems unfair for me to be picked out as cardiac rhythm management service is a real team effort – I am just one of many who work together trying to deliver the best care we can.
“It’s nice to know that you have made a positive difference to peoples’ lives.
“That is after all why so many of us are in the healthcare profession.”