Touching nominations flood in for our Cambridge University Hospitals staff award
Consultants, nurses, midwives, therapists and whole departments are among the nominations for the Public Choice Award, run by the Cambridge Independent with Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH).
We have joined forces with the NHS trust to invite nominations for the special category, which is the only one open to the public at the CUH Annual Awards. It will reward the care and dedication of staff at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie.
Titled ‘Kindness, compassion and care – The Public Choice Award’, the category is open to nominations now.
Grace Waters, from London, has nominated haematology consultant Dr William Thomas from the haemophilia centre.
“Dr Thomas is the kindest doctor I have ever met,” she wrote in her nomination. “He goes above and beyond for his patients. He truly is an asset to CUH and I’m sure I am not alone in being utterly grateful for all he has done for me. Thank you, thank you for believing in me and for everything you have done.”
Head of adult auditory rehabilitation Rachel Knappett has been nominated by a parent for her “unfailingly kind, patient and perceptive” approach with her son.
“She adapted to my son’s communication difficulties and preferences within a few minutes of meeting him and has given us huge amounts of practical advice as well as helping him make decisions on what treatment to have,” the parent explained. “She has told us the results of tests very clearly, making it easy to understand.”
For Mel Ellingham, from Linton, the whole critical care team deserves the award for the care they gave her mother.
She explained: “My mum spent a total of six months during the pandemic in ICU (D3 and D4). It was a really worrying time as it was the height of the Covid pandemic and we were not allowed to visit on the first three months of her stay.
“The staff have been wonderful and patient in updating us daily, regularly setting up her iPad so we can see and communicate with mum, even during those times that she can’t respond.
“This was very reassuring for mum as all she could see were staff in full PPE gear. They went above and beyond in their care from nurses, health care assistants, physio to doctors, dietitian, ward assistants, students and pharmacists.”
She added: “Mum had a chance to spend Christmas and new year with family at home after one year in hospital which made it really special for our family.”
You can nominate online now by visiting cambridgeindependent.co.uk and finding the story under News>Health, or go straight to the form at https://bit.ly/3tjA7yK.
