THE clinical excellence and human warmth of NHS doctors, nurses and hospital staff was celebrated at a gala event in Oxford Town Hall this week.

About 280 people packed into the venue for the Oxford University Hospitals staff recognition awards, with finalists selected from a record 850 nominations from colleagues and patients.

Winners were as varied as a therapist who introduced the first video-based therapy for children with congenital facial palsy, staff responsible for the trust's new 'HART' ambulatory services and a woman who has volunteered at the John Radcliffe Hospital for more than 30 years.

Opening the event on Wednesday night, OUH chairwoman Dame Fiona Caldicott said: "Our continued success as an organisation stems in no small way from the motivation, dedication, collaboration and resolve of our wonderful staff, working together and supporting each other - all making such a vital collective contribution in delivering care and keeping everything going each and every day."

One of the evening's highlights was the first ever Patients' Choice awards, chosen by a panel of patients from 247 nominations for staff at the trust's four hospitals.

It was won by three OUH employees for their outstanding treatment of a baby born with a congenital heart condition, and the support they gave his family.

Staff working at the new 'Liaison Hub' set up to reduce delayed transfers of care at Oxford's hospitals also received a special recognition award.

Dame Fiona also praised staff working 'extremely hard' in gynaecology and maternity services following the temporary downgrade of the maternity service at the Horton General Hospital and a subsequent increase in the number of births at the John Radcliffe in Oxford.

OUH chief executive Dr Bruno Holthof said: "These awards are a highlight of my year. They provide an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding care provided across our four hospitals and in particular all those OUH staff who go above and beyond what is expected of them.

"Tonight’s winners demonstrate that this approach to excellence and compassion is a common factor across the Trust.

"Tonight is also special because we have our first ever winners of the Patients’ Choice awards. The large number of nominations and the heart-warming stories that we have heard are testament not only to the amazing work that our staff do but also the high regard in which they are held by our patients and the public."