Staff from across UCLH were honoured at a special awards ceremony last night which included for the first time a ‘Contribution to World Class Research’ category.
Doctors, nurses, administration staff, researchers and volunteers were among those to pick up prizes for their achievements.
The research prize was won by Professor Derek Yellon, Mr Shyam Kolvekar, Dr Malcolm Walker, Dr Derek Hausenloy and the teams at the Hatter Cardiovascular Institute and The Heart Hospital for their collaborative research which “succeeded in taking discoveries from laboratory-based studies to elegant randomised studies in patients”.
Professor Yellon said: "It’s a fantastic award as it gives recognition to all the people involved in the research and that’s a tremendous accolade."
He added: "I think the support the BRC gives innovation and research is invaluable – it has really allowed us to take forward our basic science, our 1st in man studies. We couldn’t do that without the support of the NIHR and BRC."
The Celebrating Excellence Awards 2013 were held at One Moorgate Place and funded by UCLH Charity. All finalists were invited to attend and guest host Jon Snow announced the winners following a drinks reception and dinner.
Jon Snow said UCLH meant a lot to him after he was treated in A&E when he was knocked off his bike. He said he was treated 'absolutely superbly' by an experienced team in a department that had a real 'sense of community'. He added: "How many award ceremonies could you go to where every single one of the winners could be so articulate about what they do and so grateful for the team in which they work?"
Richard Murley, UCLH chairman, described it a 'very special and significant evening' adding his thanks to UCLH Charity for funding the event.
Sir Robert Naylor, UCLH chief executive, praised the 'fantastic leaders who have been on this stage'. He said: "I am really proud to be chief executive of this organisation. Sitting here listening to fantastic achievements of everybody nominated, and in particular those who have won, makes me proud to be here. I had great pleasure today in showing one of the new health ministers around the Trust. When he left he said to me 'why can't all hospitals be like this?' That emphasises what I think about UCLH."
The majority of the finalists were nominated by their colleagues and managers for consistently going above and beyond the call of duty.
Other winners included Elaine Thorpe and the Critical Care Team who scooped the Gwyneth Griffiths award for top-quality patient care; and Dr Christian Hasford (medical and dental category) and Helen O’Toole who both took home a Chairman’s Medal for Excellence in Education and Training.
The Chief Nurse's Prize went to Rebecca Mortimer “for leading and inspiring a team of nurses and the multi-disciplinary team”.
Best UCLH Trained Newly Qualified Nurse - Supported by the UCH Nurses' League award - was won by Joanna Porca, “a nurse that I would be very grateful to have looking after one of my family."
The UCH Nurses’ League Christine Harcourt-Smith Award for Nursing Assistant of the Year went to Daniel Biely who was described as "excellent at developing a good rapport with patients and carers.”
Sofie Walker was triumphant in the UCH Nurses’ League Christine Harcourt-Smith Award for Registered Nurse Mentor of the Year. Sofie has “empowered and built confidence and always ensures patient and my own safety”.
The Chief Executive's Outstanding Leadership Award went to Dr Charles House who “should be held up as a model DCD who leads a service forward, putting patient care at the heart of what we do."
Rose Lee who has been a volunteer at UCLH for 24 years was given the Going the Extra Mile Volunteer Award. Rose "amazes and inspires new volunteers, and with her wealth of experience and quiet confidence helps them to realise their own potential."
Finally it was Professor Tony Goldstone who took home the Chief Executive’s Outstanding Leadership award for his services to UCLH which run over a period of 37 years when he first started as a consultant haematologist in 1976.
The awards ceremony was co-ordinated by Katie Lahiffe, Learning and Development Consultant at UCLH and supported by John Lewis.
