Congratulations to all those who have been nominated for an award.
Meet the finalists!
Values Champion – Partnering
Mark Rawlings, Porter
Mark is not only an amazing leader, but a kind and compassionate individual. He supports SaTH Charity and this year coordinated his second football tournament in aid of the Dementia Appeal. He raised £4,000 and created a tremendous amount of teamwork across the hospital. Mark has time and patience for everyone, he really makes those involved feel valued. Mark was integral to the success of the tournament and the event was supported by hundreds of colleagues and their families
SaTH Education and DFN Project Search Team
SaTH partnered with DFN Project SEARCH, Shropshire Council, Shrewsbury Colleges Group and Enable Supported Employment to offer young people with learning disabilities, neurodiverse people and autistic individuals the opportunity to gain valuable work experience across the hospital. The Education Team were relentless in gaining support across the Trust, securing placement opportunities in areas such as Catering, Housekeeping, Pharmacy, Pathology, Radiology and more. The scheme has led to individuals gaining employment and important life skills and has been genuinely life changing for the interns involved.
Judith Barnes, Clinical Information Officer
Judith has worked with many departments, wards and individuals across the organisation. Over the last three years, she has worked on the improvement and accessibility of data and information for areas such as Pharmacy, Infection Prevention Control (IPC), Deteriorating Patient and Palliative and End of Life. She is driven to support better outcomes, improve experience for patients and colleagues through improved audits, dashboards and checks. The patient is at the heart of everything she does, and she has been integral in improving and capturing the patient voice.
Values Champion – Ambitious
The Hepatology Team
The Hepatology Team was awarded the Improving Quality in Liver Services (IQILS) Award as recognition of high-quality service. The team were assessed in leadership and operation delivery, person-centred care, risk and patient safety and clinical effectiveness. The assessing team were impressed by the person-centred approach. Patients regularly give positive feedback including a good impression on arrival, an emphasis on dignity and privacy, swift letter turnaround and prompt access to the clinical team. There are only 14 other IQILS accredited Hepatology units in the UK and this is a huge recognition of the quality of care and ambition of the team.
The Community Diagnostic Centre Project Team
The Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) Project Team converted a run-down office block in Telford into a state-of-the-art diagnostic centre, delivering key routine diagnostic tests away from acute hospital sites, for the whole community. The CDC reduces waiting times for non-urgent tests, improving patient experience and outcomes. The successful opening of the CDC involved great partnership working with healthcare partners, local councils and consultation with the public. Since its opening in October 2023, it has received extremely positive endorsement from both patients and colleagues.
Joanne Carswell, Senior Pharmacy Technician - Education and Training
Joanne oversees apprenticeships within Pharmacy and looks for ways to increase the number of trainees to grow the workforce. Joanne receives fantastic feedback from her trainees as she has created career progression for pharmacy assistant technical officers leading to a significantly happier workforce. She is an advocate for careers in Pharmacy, attending events, visiting schools, creating workshops and sessions. Joanne sits on the ICS Pharmacy Faculty Group and is an avid member making a huge difference to the workforce agenda not just within SaTH but across the ICS.
Values Champion – Caring
Rachel Williamson, Renal Social Care Coordinator
Rachel works with transplant, home dialysis and dialysis patients. She goes above and beyond, demonstrating high standards of care in relation to the patients’ social circumstances. Rachel ensures patients have the support they require in the community. She assists with finances, social prescribing and signposting to other services within the community. The patients adore her. Rachel is heavily involved with charities including Renal Kidney Association, Community Connection Meetings, Age UK, Kidney care grants, Shropshire community energy schemes and Lady Forester Grants.
Hannah Griffiths, Ward Sister, SDEC
Hannah provides exceptional care and comfort to her patients and their relatives. When it comes to time of discharge, she makes sure that correct procedures have been followed, her patients have all their belongings, including prescriptions, and makes a conscious effort to say goodbye. Hannah doesn’t just show this value with her patients, but with her colleagues too. Hannah regularly has shifts where she manages the ward but also helps on the ward when needed, ensuring her staff are well, have had sufficient breaks, food and drink.
The Hospital at Night Team, RSH and PRH
The Hospital at Night Team consists of nurse practitioners and clinical support workers, whilst also having a pathway for trainee nurse practitioners. The team is built on the foundations of the Trust values, sheer dedication to their role and the difference they make to both patients and colleagues. The Hospital at Night Team, at both RSH and PRH, work out-of-hours services, supporting both nurses and doctors with deteriorating patients, with care and compassion. The Hospital at Night Team continually demonstrates empathy and respect to all. The team makes a real difference and always puts the patient first.
Values Champion – Trusted
Mahmoud Elshehawy, Medical Registrar
Dr Elshehawy is a remarkable presence in the Emergency Department. He’s always active, approachable and ready to help, no matter how busy things get. He consistently goes the extra mile to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients. What stands out is how Dr Elshehawy manages to maintain high standards of care without ever compromising the needs of other patients. Even when things are hectic, he’s there to provide support, answer questions, and lend a hand. He also takes the time to teach and discuss cases with resident doctors, sharing his knowledge generously. His dedication, professionalism, and kindness make him a trusted and respected colleague.
Ayodele Allinson, Specialty Doctor, Anaesthetics
Dr Allinson makes sure patients are well looked after to a high standard, regardless of the challenges faced. His kindness and empathetic approach has earned the trust and respect of both patients and colleagues, especially as he provides mentorship to junior members of the team. He demonstrates a deep knowledge and approaches challenging scenarios with a level of expertise that is both impressive and reassuring. His ability to navigate complex issues whilst remaining calm and composed makes him an invaluable asset to the department.
The Catering Team
The Catering Team strives to achieve high standards of care for patients, visitors and colleagues. Swapping patient meals supplier this year meant the team had to change the menus. They did this seamlessly. The team go the extra mile sourcing meals for a variety of diets and needs, by engaging with patients which results in a fantastic patient experience. The team support visitors by supporting with food trays and pulling out chairs for easier access, especially while dealing with customers who have mobility difficulties.
Ward 35
Ward 35 work extremely hard and receive several thank you cards a week with comments including, “words are not enough to express the kindness received. Thank you for all the care, attention, support and friendship over many years.” Ward 35 is immaculate and welcoming as you enter, all staff are enthusiastic at ensuring that cleanliness audits are top scoring and if any faults are found they are immediately rectified as they know how important it is. The team also value students and enjoy teaching them, seeing knowledge grow within their training. Recently a student said, “Thank you for respecting me, giving me time to learn and build my knowledge”.
Corrine Gwilliams, Medical Device Equipping Manager
Corrine is a shining light in the Medical Engineering Team. She does outstanding work for the Trust including being involved in capital purchases and projects. Currently carrying out two roles in the department and training others, she continues to work at a high level to improve the Trust and the care for patients. Corrine is key team player assisting with a variety of tasks. Her team would be lost without her as she is there for everyone in difficult times.
Getting to Good Awards - Innovator of the Year
Lacey Jones, Sister, Ward 35
Lacey has worked extremely hard to organise and lead a project to allow patients quicker access to get treatment on Ward 35. This also helps to eliminate the pressures in Haematology. She organised getting all relevant colleagues trained in giving infusions, liaising with Haematology to complete the training. She worked with clinical and non-clinical team members to develop the best process for the patients. Lacey has been involved in each step of the process, creating the Standard Operating Procedure and business case.
The Breast Surgery Team, PRH
Over the past year the Breast Surgery Team at PRH have significantly improved the service for patients by implementing significant innovations. The Breast Pain Service was designed so non-cancer patients can be cared for closer to home and out of a cancer setting. Magtrace removes the need for patients to undergo an injection of nuclear medicine, which reduces patient travel and demands on NHS services. Together with Radiology, the team has implemented a radiological procedure which avoids patients needing to have a theatre procedure and removing any of the associated risks. These innovations are improving patient care and also saving the Trust money.
Macmillan Physiotherapy Team RSH
The Macmillan Physiotherapy Team provide a service to patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer to help regain shoulder movement after surgery. The team continually strives to adapt and evolve the service to provide the best care for patients. Following the return of face-to-face appointments, and after extensive consultation with patients, the Physio Exercise and Advice Session was developed and launched in January 2024. In addition to shoulder exercises, it covers a range of information from scar management to reducing the risk of lymphoedema to general healthy living advice. It also provides patients the opportunity to meet others going through similar experience and they can give support to one another.
Getting to Good Awards - Health Equality Hero
The Maternity Project Team
The UK has one of the lowest maternal mortality ratios in the world, but there are persistent disparities in outcomes for women depending on their ethnicity. Research shows that black women are 3.7 times more likely to die than a white woman and Asian women are 1.8 times more likely to die than white women. Maternal outcomes for gypsy, roma and traveller communities show high rates of caesarean birth, miscarriage, pregnancy loss or child loss. The team utilised local data to undertake a review of community needs. This focused on culture, leadership, access, service improvement and patient engagement. The team has since delivered an action plan which includes the recruitment of specialist and international midwives, patient leaflets in more languages, training programmes and engagement with communities.
Stroke Therapy Team
The Stroke and Rehabilitation Therapy Team initiated specialist stroke therapy groups to increase socialisation, wellbeing and therapeutic opportunities for patients. The team run occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy groups which are adapted to meet the needs of patients. Examples of the activities include seated tai-chi, music quizzes, parachute games, team obstacle courses and mime games. The goal of these groups is to focus on rehabilitation, increase direct therapy contact time, social interaction and enhance the overall patient experience. Patient feedback has identified satisfaction scores of over 90%.
Getting to Good Awards - Sustainability Advocate
The Sustainability Team, RSH and PRH
The Sustainability Team promote all things green at the Trust including waste and energy management, biodiversity, travel and transport. They are implementing the Trust Green Plan to achieve net zero by 2040. The team has recently installed additional secure cycle shelters to encourage colleagues to cycle to work. They also host a Big Green Week to promote greener travel. They have secured external funding for solar panels, LED lighting and for a low carbon energy centre. They are also implementing a clinical waste strategy to reduce the amount of clinical waste resulting in a financial gain.
Sarah Rashid, Rota Coordinator, Medicine
Sarah has made a significant contribution to improving the reduction of agency spend over the last year. She has completed this by using the relationships she has built with our medical workforce to convert agency staff on to the bank. This includes resident doctors that were supporting escalation areas. The conversion of consultants to the bank equated to a £7.50 per hour saving. Her assistance has supported divisional financial recovery, demonstrating excellent partnership working. Her success demonstrates the trust our medical workforce has in her. Sarah is an asset to the Trust and is instrumental in helping along our sustainability journey.
Marie Devitt, Sustainability, Risk & Compliance Officer
Marie is incredibly helpful and active within the Trust. She has implemented many changes to reduce cost flow and reducing our carbon footprint. She also regularly organises colleague wellbeing walks, often bringing a speaker along to explain the wildlife. She has implemented a new orchard and numerous flower beds to encourage pollination. Marie can often be seen busy working on energy reduction programmes and carrying them through to implementation. No matter if it’s water, electric or gas, she will find the best way to use it efficiently and in doing so further reduce the cost.
The flu campaign team
Throughout the 2023/24 flu campaign, the flu vaccinators recycled every cardboard and every plastic vaccine package. This is an impressive commitment, saving large amounts of materials from going to landfill and also helping the Trust with disposal savings. This also aligns with two of the Trust’s values. Ambitious – to continuously improve the quality and sustainability of our services, and Caring – caring about the difference we make to our community. The team are trying to inspire other departments within the Trust to take up green initiatives of their own and show every department can be sustainable.
Getting to Good Awards - We are always learning Champion
Marie Mason, OD Practitioner and Trainer
Marie joined SaTH in early 2023. In that short period of time she has developed training packages, masterclasses and delivered well over a hundred different sessions. She has engaged and motivated many colleagues in a range of different departments, both clinical and non-clinical. She is passionate about learning and development, advocating the People Promise ‘We are always learning’. She inspires others to learn and develop themselves which in turn has a positive impact on patient care and career progression and her joy of work and life in general is infectious.
Blessing Pokuaa, Rotational Pharmacy Assistant Technical Officer
Blessing joined the Pharmacy Team in 2023 and enrolled on the Level 2 Pharmacy Assistant Programme and has gone from strength to strength. Blessing receives glowing feedback from training and education leads and continuous praise from the training provider supplying the course. She has never missed a classroom, always ahead on her work and now she is at the end point assessment stage of her course and consistently returning with distinction level mock exam results. She has so much knowledge and enthusiasm, it’s infectious. She has found a passion for learning and is already looking ahead to the next level of training and development.
Hollie Bennett, Radiographer
Hollie embodies the spirit of continuous learning and development. This dedication not only enhances her own expertise but also enriches the learning environment for everyone around her. She goes above and beyond to support students, providing them with the tools and motivation they need to succeed. Her genuine care for their progress is reflected in the thoughtful and engaging learning materials she creates. Her ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings not only enhances her own performance but also inspires those around her to strive for excellence. Hollie is more than just a team member, she is a beacon of inspiration.
Getting to Good Awards - Leader of the Year
Mandy Wilson, Advanced Nurse Practitioner
Mandy leads the breast department with strength, diligence and grace. Mandy has helped to lead on the breast service pledge to improve care and has helped lead the way in the West Midlands on outpatient transformation. She has grown the team, helped to bring service improvements such as Magtrace and Vacuum Assisted Excision. Mandy has also been involved in research that has been presented and published internationally. She is a co-applicant on a successful grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research to understand how to improve breast cancer care. She is a true leader demonstrating how to give the best care possible for her patients.
Natalie Dulson, Operations Manager, Emergency Department
Natalie is a highly motivated, professional and valued member of the team. She goes above and beyond to mentor, support and grow the team within Acute Medicine. Natalie has been a beacon of hope and inspiration to many through good and difficult times. Her consistency and availability make her a hugely valued and trusted leader in the department. She has played a key role at multiple critical points throughout the development of the department and the ACP service. She finds ways to act on and address real issues facing front line clinicians. She is equally skilled at speaking to the entire department and facilitating talent conversations in one-to-one sessions.
Ruth Smith, Lead for Patient Experience
Ruth is the epitome of a leader who leads by example. She consistently demonstrates strong communication skills and a compassionate approach when working with colleagues, patients, visitors and volunteers. Ruth has been instrumental in developing a Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Service which provides 24/7 multi-faith support. Ruth is a truly wonderful leader and role model who encapsulates the Trust values and has embedded them with the teams that she manages. Ruth is a caring, compassionate leader who truly has patients at the forefront of every decision she makes.
Jamie Henry, Senior Practice Education Facilitator
The Practice Education Facilitator (PEF) Team is achieving great things with Jamie leading them. Jamie adapts to change, making her dependable and resilient no matter what challenges or obstacles she may face. Jamie is a natural at allowing others space to grow, giving guidance when needed and being proactive in supporting people around her to develop and progress. She leads with humility which is a true inspiration. Jamie has fostered a work environment where we feel valued and encouraged to do our best, making it her mission to ensure each team member reaches their full potential.
Angela Lewis, EPR Programme Manager
Angela has worked within the Digital Services Team for several years, her hard work and dedication to ‘Getting to Good’ has been exceptional. She has led the Digital Transformation Project which has seen the roll out of many different systems that help colleagues to complete tasks more easily and assists with patient safety. She has not only continued to support all the teams within Digital Services with business-as-usual work, but she has also supported the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) Programme. Angela has gone above and beyond to support teams, explaining change at all levels. As a manager, she always has time to chat and offer support.
Community Awards - Rising Star
Kirstie Watton, Medical Secretaries Supervisor
Kirstie joined the Trust in January 2023 and has gone out of her way to support colleagues and try to ensure the best for her teams and colleagues. Kirstie’s teams have faced many challenging times during this period with recruitment gaps, long term sickness and transitioning to new digital systems. But with Kirstie’s enthusiasm, proactive approach and endless support, she has supported the team through all of this. Kirstie demonstrates our Trust values daily, going above and beyond, caring for her team. Kirstie brings a great energy to the team and is a pleasure to work with.
Sam Matthews, Lead Nurse for the Enhanced Care Team
Sam started with the Trust two years ago and in that time has developed the Enhanced Care Service to support patients who require enhanced observations. She has built the team, focusing on the quality of care to patients as well as supporting cost savings. Her passion for developing and enhancing this new service is second to none, always focusing on patient and ensuring patients are always at the centre of decisions. This service is certainly flourishing due to her determination to make a difference. Regional NHS Workforce leads are keen to share the work done as an excellent example of how this new service has delivered benefits to patients.
Uzma Sohail, Junior Assistant Operational Manager
Uzma began volunteering at SaTH back in 2022 and in August 2023, Uzma successfully joined the Women and Children’s Operational Team as a support coordinator. In the last year, Uzma has represented SaTH’s values in all aspects of her work, playing a vital role in helping ensure a smooth delivery of a new paediatric digital system alongside her colleagues. Uzma ensures her work is always delivered to a high standard with patients and colleagues remaining at the heart of what she does. Her development has been phenomenal over the last 12 months, and the team can’t wait to see her future development at SaTH.
Community Awards - Volunteer of the Year
Peter Hicking
Peter has been loyal, reliable and hardworking on the door of Phlebotomy, marshalling the crowds with the most impeccable manner. Peter has also provided a substantial amount of support for the Hospitals Transformation Programme (HTP). With the RSH Outpatients entrance closed, volunteers have been crucial to ensuring our patients and visitors find their way around the hospital. Whether on his normal shift in Phlebotomy or helping after the closure of the Outpatients entrance, or any of the other roles he has tried, Peter always greets our patients, carers, visitors, and colleagues with a smile, which is truly invaluable; a smile goes a very long way.
Bailey Thompson
Bailey is an absolute superstar volunteer. She joined the Volunteer to Career Programme in 2023 and has gone on to achieve remarkable things. A year later, she is now a student midwife. She has given over 300 hours of volunteering, supporting mums, colleagues and families in Maternity and goes above and beyond. Bailey mentors new volunteers by showing them around the unit, introducing them to colleagues and showing them where everything is. She is so incredibly hard working and fits volunteering around her full-time job and two children. She is always seen with a smile on her face, always goes that extra mile for us and for her patients.
Nadine Wilde
Nadine has worked with the Dementia Care Team for over three years. If you were to look up positive culture, perseverance, accountability or loyalty to a team – you would find Nadine. She consistently demonstrates a can-do attitude and will find a way to solve a problem. She understands how to navigate sensitive situations and ensure confidentiality. She recognises that a simple thank you, or a shared laugh can make a person’s day. Nadine embraces the volunteer role with her heart and never fails to be supportive and above all kind to us all alongside her role.
Community Awards - Partner of the Year
The Patient Information Panel
The Patient Information Panel is a group of patient representatives who reviewed and standardised all patient letters. The project was part of the rollout of the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) Programme to ensure all patient letters are accessible. As a result, around 7,000 different appointment letters were reviewed and reduced to 150. The team was formed to reflect the diversity of people and the impact of patient letters, pulling together multiple stakeholders to drive the change. The team are health literate aware and applied this information, together with health literacy tools to develop patient information at an appropriate reading age.
George Mortimer, Paramedic
George is cheerful, helpful and was made to save lives. He has a way with people, making them feel so comfortable. He can make the quietest patients open up to him. Chatting with patients is one of the most important parts of the job and George does it effortlessly. From making small children smile, to helping the older generation to keep their independence and dignity, he is an amazing person through and through. George always goes out of his way to make every patient feel safe, well cared for and gives a real personal touch to the patient’s experience.
Shropshire Star Public Recognition Award
Janice Llewellyn, Children’s Oncology and Haematology Nurse
“We, as a family, have been visiting the unit for 10 years. Janice has been our rock. She is simply the best specialist nurse ever. Once she was away visiting family and we had issues with medication delivery she sorted it out even though she was on annual leave. My girls adore her, as we all do as a family. Nothing is ever too much. COVID-19 was hard as we had to shield, but Janice and her team made coming to hospital very special. My girls used to look forward to their transfusions as it got them out the house and everything used to be set out for them from toys crafts everything they wanted.”
“Janice has been a massive support to our whole family for nearly 15 years. She goes above and beyond. Two of our boys rely on Janice for support and she is their support blanket in the medical world of haemophilia. She is on the end of the phone, even for the adults. We couldn’t have got through all the years of stress and panic without her. She has a great sense of humour, lots of banter which helps keep things normal. She is so passionate about her specialty and without her the unit wouldn’t be the same.”
Ward 24, Respiratory
Ward 24, Respiratory, received three nominations.
“I have had four admissions since Easter with pneumonia and the staff on Ward 24, Respiratory are amazing and just put you at ease so you don’t worry. The staff genuinely love what they do. I know that if I have to go in again then my treatment will be given with as much care as any time before.”
“I am a palliative care patient with severe breathing problems. I am well known to the ward and each time I go in they go above and beyond despite being short-staffed. They go without breaks to ensure very poorly patients, like myself, are looked after. They always make the best of some very difficult situations whilst maintaining professional behaviour at all times. They hold your hand and comfort you in very hard times when you are fighting for your breath thinking your time has come.”
“This ward has looked after me many times. The staff go above and beyond to help everyone, they have saved my life on a couple of occasions, and I cannot thank them enough. The health care assistants are fantastic and do everything in their power to make our stay as comfortable as possible, nothing is too much trouble for them. I can’t thank them enough for getting me through the most scary times. I will never forget it. I owe my life to them.”
The Lingen Davies Centre
“I am receiving cancer treatment at the unit and their care and compassion is second to none. They make a difficult day more bearable for me and so many others. The staff are all amazing and I can’t thank them enough for all they do. From the receptionist to the nurses and doctors, they all have a part to play in the running of this wonderful unit. We are very blessed to have this treatment centre in our area. They are supportive to the family members too, realising that they also need support.”
