NURSES, doctors, scientists and volunteers who go the extra mile, show strong leadership and participate in pioneering research have been honoured with awards.

Among the winners at the Oxford University Hospitals Trust (OUHT) staff recognition awards was Rebecca Hayden, a maternity support worker at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Mum-of-two Ms Hayden, 48, won a gold award in the excellence category of the awards, presented at a ceremony at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock on Thursday night.

She was nominated by colleague Sandra Snowdon, who said her hard work was appreciated by hundreds of mums.

In her citation, Ms Snowdon said her colleague was always being given sweets and presents by patients, which she shared with fellow workers.

Ms Hayden, of Abingdon, said: “I cried when they called my name out.

“This isn’t usually the sort of thing you get recognised for but it is nice when it happens. To be put forward by my colleagues, it is all very overwhelming.”

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  • Award for Compassion winner Elizabeth Neale, left, is presented with her award by Liz Wright, Acting Chief Nurse

The gold award winner in the compassion category was Elizabeth Neale, the manager and sister at the renal unit at the Milton Keynes satellite office, part of the OUHT’s operations.

Her nomination came from colleagues Lindsay Bell, Claire Cox and Ann Middleton, who said she always went the extra mile, even coming in with food for colleagues during time off over Christmas.

Mum-of-six Mrs Neale, who lives in Bedford, said: “I was amazed and delighted.

“To think that the staff who work with me had nominated me was lovely, but to actually win was amazing.”

The gold award for improvement to services went to clinical scientist Jesse Hayesmoore, and Sobell House Bereavement Service team leader Marilyn Relf won the partnership award.

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  • The Award for Excellence is presented to Rebecca Hayden by Sir Jonathan Michael

Nurse Sarah Kidd-May won the top award for leadership, and the Datix Team in the Clinical Risk Management department won the team award.

The volunteer award went to Elaine Blackie, a research volunteer in the Oxford Eye Hospital Clinical Trials department.

A standing ovation was also given to silver award winner Ronald Watson, a volunteer on the help desk in the west wing at the John Radcliffe for more than 30 years.

The winners were all praised by trust chief executive Sir Jonathan Michael and chairman Dame Fiona Caldicott.