CELEBRATIONS were in order as the county’s medics united to honour their devoted colleagues’ outstanding care.

Hospital staff gathered at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust’s (OUH) Annual Staff Recognition Awards last Wednesday.

The Parks Road museum was full of excitement as winners of the trust’s nine awards were revealed.

In the final feature, Annabal Bagdi speaks to the winners of the last three the awards.

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WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP - GOLD

SAMANTHA Cragg was awarded the gold prize for Working in Partnership for her dedication and support towards colleagues.

The neuropathology administrator was nominated by directorate manager Hilary Brown who said Ms Cragg would often arrange activities for staff to lift their spirits.

Ms Brown said it was down to Ms Cragg’s caring nature.

She added: “Samantha works very hard but the thing that many admire in neuropathology is her ability to collaborate with all levels of staff, all service users, and visitors on such a variety of matters.

“Her personal approach to working with groups ensures all feel welcome, all feel supported and allows a can-do approach to any question.

Ms Brown said she also nominated Ms Cragg for her enthusiasm to work with other medics, jumping at every opportunity to collaborate with registrars, service managers, laboratory staff, university researchers and students.

Ms Brown added: “She links with others so that they can learn and suggest what’s possible and continues to ensure that standards do not slip.”

Ms Cragg said: “It was a great honour to receive the gold award. It was a total surprise. There are many people at the hospital who give a lot of themselves for the sake of the Health Service so it is very humbling to be chosen from what could be a very long list. 

“The award now serves as a daily reminder to me to continue to aspire to best practice when I come to work. 

“My job has changed quite a lot in the 16 years that I’ve been in the department and I have been given new challenges by my manager which has, I think, kept me in post, encouraged by the desire to complete a task to the best of my ability.”

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP - SILVER

SILVER winner Mary Cocker, pictured below, was honoured for her work with patient scans and X-rays.

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  • Andrew Stevens, executive director, planning and information, at OUHT, presenting the silver Working in Partnership award to Mary Cocker

As head of the imaging physics department, she works alongside cardiology, radiology and radiotherapy medics to ensure radiological images are taken safely.

The Churchill Hospital-based employee installed a radiation dose package within the trust allowing staff to adjust measures to benefit patients.

She is also involved with the University of California, comparing the trusts’ medical practices with hospitals across America.

Nominator Therese Crawley said: “She continues to be an excellent ambassador for OUH, commanding respect from all those involved in this immense project and putting us on the international radiation dose map.”

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP - BRONZE

NEONATAL consultant Amit Gupta was praised for his international work to improve the care of sick youngsters.

Mr Gupta has worked in the John Radcliffe Hospital’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit since 2009, helping to care for about 900 babies each year.

He was nominated by Tony McDonald, divisional general manager of children’s and women’s services, for his work to “single-handedly” establish a Neonatal International Fellowship Programme to recruit trainees from abroad.

Mr McDonald said: “Now in its third round, the programme has recruited 26 doctors so far, evolved to include our partnership with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and broadened to include children’s critical care and acute paediatrics.

“This innovative partnership programme developed under Amit’s leadership has facilitated the recruitment of a high performing cohort of trainees and has provided the backdrop for future collaborations.”

OUTSTANDING CARE – GOLD

RETIRED oncology support worker Kate Barber, pictured below, made the lives of hundreds of young cancer patients bearable.

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The mother-of-two and grandmother-of-four spent 25 years working within the trust, with more than 17 years caring for patients on John Radcliffe Hospital’s Kamran’s Ward.

And when she retired from her role this May, a farewell tribute posted online was overwhelmed with messages of thanks and support after years of creating smiles on the ward.

Nominator Sarah Vaccari said: “We received an unprecedented 160 ‘likes’, 25 shares and 36 comments – the biggest response to a single image we have ever had.

“Kate is certainly one in a million. No question, she is a very, very special lady.

“She is known for her amazing hugs and tremendous care, coupled with a wonderful sense of humour

“She has helped hundreds of families through the trauma of coping with childhood cancer and has a rare gift for the way in which she looks after children.”

But Mrs Barber, from Kidlington, said it was all down to the youngsters and their families who made her job worthwhile.

She added: “I feel very honoured. The only reason I have got this is because of the children and families I have worked with. I was just doing my job.

“You walk into that ward and you see the children and parents and you just stop and think ‘I have got so much and look what these people are going through’ and immediately, you have got no problems in your life.”

OUTSTANDING CARE - SILVER

NURSE Tim Lewitt won the silver award after almost 20 years caring for patients.

Matron Luisa Goddard nominated Mr Lewitt, who is based on John Radcliffe Hospital’s stroke unit, for his compassionate nature and influence on colleagues.

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  • Chief nurse Catherine Stoddart with Tim Lewitt, who won the silver Care and Compassion award  

She said: “I frequently see Tim or his deputies sitting calmly reassuring patients, assisting them with their care needs or talking to them about their life or family.

“Because Tim is such a strong role model, this kind of individualised care is replicated when he isn’t there.

“I hope this nomination will show how valued he is and what a role model for complex medical nursing 
he is.”

OUTSTANDING CARE - BRONZE

FOR consultant Mhairi Speirs, it is the little things that count.

The neuro intensive care unit medic, based at the John Radcliffe Hospital, cares for patients who need medical, surgical or radiological treatment for conditions affecting the brain, spine or nervous system.

But her nominator, who wished to remain anonymous, praised the medic for bringing presents and food in for staff on special occasions, including Christmas Day.

They added: “Mhairi is an excellent doctor who goes above and beyond her role.

“She makes sure all her staff are supported, patients are receiving the best care and relatives are updated.”

Dr Speirs’ work also featured in BBC Two documentary Brain Doctors.

SUPPORTER - GOLD

ANGELA Nicholls has raised more than £30,000 to help families battling cancer after losing her husband to a rare form of the disease. 

Tony Nicholls died aged 37 after contracting a rare form of bone cancer Ewing’s Sarcoma. 

His death prompted the mother-of-one to dedicate her time to raising money to fund research and to support other families suffering as her family did. 

Nominator Marianne Julebin said she was touched by Mrs Nicholls’ fundraising efforts, which included a 213-mile cycle ride from London to Paris, finishing at the Arc de Triomphe on what would have been Mr Nicholls’ 40th birthday. 

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  • Trust vice chairman Geoff Salt presenting the gold Supporter of the Year award to Angela Nicholls   

Fundraiser Ms Julebin added: “Right from the very start her story touched me. I know her husband did fight very hard. She reached out to the community and made it very much a project to help other people, and I think that is a very lovely thing to do. I think that shows a lot of compassion.” 

Ms Nicholls, from Brackley, has also hosted other fundraising activities including garden parties, cake sales, and street collections. 

The 41-year-old said: “I was completely overwhelmed. I was not expecting it at all. 

“Seeing what Tony had to go through, I knew I had to do something and I will continue. I won’t stop. 

“Tony never said why me, he never took it personally. He was an absolute inspiration. I just felt that in his memory I needed to do something to try to make a difference to others who suffered like he did.”

SUPPORTER - SILVER

SENIOR play specialist Erica Watson walked away with the bronze award after 10 years of organising trips for youngsters suffering with tumours.

Based at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, she has planned weekend trips away for about 40 young people with brain or spinal tumours, as well as their siblings.

Her trips have enabled patients with palsy or paralysis of limbs to go cycling and rock-climbing, as well as letting blind youngsters try archery.

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  • Trust vice-chairman Geoff Salt presenting the silver Supporter of the Year award to Erica Watson   

Her nominator, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “She arranges volunteers and activities that these children could otherwise only dream of.

“She is dedicated and passionate about her role and is an excellent team player.”

SUPPORTER - BRONZE

PAEDIATRIC consultant Julie Edge was honoured for her work caring for more than 300 young diabetics.

The John Radcliffe Hospital medic works with the Children’s Diabetes Team, which cares for young people across the county.

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  • Trust vice-chairman Geoff Salt presenting the bronze Supporter of the Year award to Julie Edge      

She was nominated by Karen Ross for leading the team to ensure all children receive appropriate care in school and also for her work in developing a children’s diabetes educator.

She added: “Julie has a reputation both nationally and internationally for excellence in children’s diabetes management, taking part in many national groups developing care guidelines in the UK.”


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