TV stars Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan attended the trust’s glittering staff achievement awards ceremony last night, which recognised members of staff for their outstanding contribution to the trust.

Nearly 100 members of staff were nominated for awards at the outstanding contributions and rewards (OSCaRs) event at the Royal Free Hospital on Thursday night.

Richard and Judy praised the staff for their hard work and helped to hand out 20 awards in eight different categories at the OSCaRs event, which around 250 people attended.

The couple said they were delighted to attended and added: “We know that this years’ event is of special significance because it is the first year that the Royal Free London is made up of staff from Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital. You are now all part of the sixth biggest NHS trust in the country and this event is all about reflecting on your hard work.”

Dominic Dodd, the chairman of the trust, said: “Tonight is about celebrating the tremendous work of our staff. We are here to recognise the remarkable achievements you have accomplished over the past year and the excellent work that has been done to improve the lives of our patients. Our staff have given their all and ensured that world class patient care has continue to be delivered at all of our sites.”

He added: “It has been a very difficult to make a decision as to the award winners this year with the calibre of entries, if I could give an Oscar to everyone here tonight I would!”

Among the winners was Katherine Hopkins, a Macmillan nurse consultant, who won the chairman’s leadership award. She said: “I am retiring next month so I will have been a nurse for 37 years and spent 30 of those at the Royal Free Hospital on different occasions. 

“I think it is an amazing organisation and it has been my second home and I feel very touched to be given that award. It means a huge amount.”

A posthumous award was also given to Professor Andrew Burroughs, a world renowned professor of hepatology and consultant hepatologist who worked in the Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre at the Royal Free Hospital for the majority of his career. Professor Burroughs died in March 2014 but was nominated for the chairman’s leadership award by a patient who felt she owed her life to him. 

Professor Stephen Powis, medical director of the trust, said there were a number of things that were special about Professor Burroughs. “He had a great passion for finding and teaching and bringing forward the next generation of doctors. He carried that flame, that dream, that Sheila Sherlock lit when she founded that liver unit.”

David Sloman, the chief executive of the trust, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to Richard and Judy for joining us this evening and congratulations to all of our OSCaR winners and nominees, you really have made an outstanding contribution to the trust.”
 
He added: “A special thanks goes to the Royal Free Charity, which has funded tonight’s wonderful event. Without the charity’s help, the event would not have been possible.” 

Take a look at our photos from the night in our OSCaRs awards 2014 gallery.

Our winners

A full list of our winners can be found below:

Outstanding contribution to patient care award:
Highly commended – Meryl Davis, consultant vascular surgeon
Runner up – Florenc Vrapi, speciality doctor (cardiology)
Individual winner – Karen Kilbride, ward sister
Team winner – high level isolation unit/Ebola team

Unsung hero award:
Highly commended – Philip India, assistant technical officer
Runner up – Angeline Shoniwa, senior sister
Individual winner – Jackie Sanders, clinical nurse specialist (colposcopy)
Team winner – Royal Free Hospital patient advice and liaison service team – Roz De Silva, Sebastien Pumfrey and Rose Ward

Quality, research and/or innovation award:
Runner up - community neurological conditions management team
Winner – Andrew Symes, clinical nurse specialist, and Sarita Workman, research sister

Outstanding contribution to education award:
Team winner - nursing and midwifery education and development team
Individual winner – Huw Beynon, consultant physician

Volunteer of the year award:
Runner up – Royal Free Hospital front of house team
Winner – Shetal Patel, volunteer (Barnet Hospital)

Outstanding contribution to patient safety award:
Individual winner – Caitriona Stapleton, patient safety facilitator
Team winner – 9 north ward team

Equality, diversity and inclusion award:
Runner up – Jackie Macklin and Dawn Atkinson (equality and diversity team)
Winner – Radiology admin and clerical team

Chairman’s leadership award:
Runner up – Emily Hills, occupational therapist
Winner – Katherine Hopkins, Macmillan nurse consultant