Gold medal-winning hurdler Colin Jackson helped staff from the Royal Free London celebrate their achievements at an awards ceremony last night.

Around 280 members of staff attended the Oscars ceremony, which was made possible thanks to the Royal Free Charity. 

Throughout the evening more than 30 awards were handed to staff who had made a significant contribution to patient care in 2016.

Colin, who won two World Championship gold medals in the 110m hurdles and an Olympic silver medal, praised the hard work of staff before handing out the awards. 

I am always so thrilled to hear about the wonderful work carried out by our staff and the different ways in which you go the extra mile. Tonight is about recognising your remarkable achievements throughout the past year.

Dominic Dodd

He said: “My Mum was a nurse in the NHS in Wales so I recognise the pressure that you guys are under. I want to say a very special well done to everyone here tonight - I am very proud to be here to celebrate all the hard work you are doing.”

Deborah Sanders, the director of nursing at the Royal Free London, congratulated staff on their successes over the past year.

“It’s been a great year for the Royal Free and none of it would have happened without you,” she told staff. “It is all absolutely down to you and all the work you do as individuals and as teams.”

Dominic Dodd, chairman of the trust, added: “I am always so thrilled to hear about the wonderful work carried out by our staff and the different ways in which you go the extra mile. Tonight is about recognising your remarkable achievements throughout the past year.”

Among the winners were Joe Winter, who won volunteer of the year for his work at Barnet Hospital, and the Ponseti paediatric orthopaedics team, who won team of the year for their work caring for children with club foot. The clinician of the year award went to Joanna Woollard, an advanced wound care specialist.

The full list of award-winners from last night is:

Outstanding contribution to education award:

Winner: Ann Page, junior sister in children’s homecare

Runner up: Ronelle Miguel, senior clinical practice educator in paediatrics

Improvement and innovation award:

Winner: senior matron Lindsey McKenna, dementia nurse Doris Ajayi and clinical practice educator Nirmala Evans

Runner-up: learning from excellence team

Outstanding contribution to patient safety award:

Winner: Canterbury Ward

Runner-up:
(Joint recognition for their Quality Improvement work)

the 7 East A falls champion team
the 10 West diabetes champion team
the RFH Emergency department sepsis champion team
and the Chase Farm Hospital safer surgery champion team

Volunteer of the year award:

Winner: Joe Winter, Barnet Hospital volunteer

Runners up: Alice Vanderpump and Millie White, Royal Free Hospital enquiry desk volunteers, and Catherine Mc Galpine, Chase Farm Hospital volunteer

Celebrating diversity award:

Joint winners: Stephen Downer, facilities team leader and LGBT forum co-chair, and Ann McLoughlin, Chase Farm redevelopment support assistant

Chairman’s leadership award:

Winner: Danielle Wilde, dementia lead

Runners-up: Kelly Rank, senior operations manager, and Tracey Van Wyk, in-patient lead for therapy services.

Clinician of the year award:

Winner:  Joanna Woollard, advanced wound care specialist

Runners-up: Alan Milligan, dermatology clinical nurse specialist, and Jane Dyer, cardiac rehabilitation nurse

Highly commended : Dr Alexandra Wu

Unsung hero award:

Winner: Donna Cumberbatch, receptionist.

Runners-up: Elizabeth Richmond, ward clerk, Olugbenga James Ogunsanya, admissions coordinator, Usha Varsani, breast screening unit office manager.

Highly commended - Gill Hyatt, volunteer team manager.

Team of the year award:

Winner: Ponseti paediatric orthopaedics team, including Nikki Shack, Olivia Malaga Shaw and Lindsey Williams.

Runners-up: 8 West CAPER Anchor team and the neonatal nursing team.

Ends

Images: The winners with Colin Jackson

Notes to editors

About the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

The Royal Free began as a pioneering organisation and continues to play a leading role in the care of patients. Our mission is to provide world class expertise and local care. In the 21st century, the Royal Free London continues to lead improvements in healthcare.

The Royal Free London attracts patients from across the country and beyond to its specialist services in liver and kidney transplantation, haemophilia, renal care, HIV, infectious diseases, plastic surgery, immunology, Parkinson's disease, vascular surgery, cardiology, amyloidosis and scleroderma and we are a member of the academic health science partnership UCLPartners.

In July 2014 Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital became part of the Royal Free London. Read 'A bigger trust, a better future'.