12.12.12
NHS celebrates exceptional leadership
Some of the most talented leaders across the health service had their contributions recognised at the NHS Leadership Recognition Awards this week.
The awards celebrate outstanding leadership practice in health, for individuals who make significant contributions to improve the quality of patient care. The awards, across nine categories, involved a three-stage judging process after candidates were nominated by their peers. Judges included Patient’s Association chief executive Katherine Murphy and Dr Peter Carter, general secretary of the RCN.
The winners are:
NHS Leader of the Year (joint winners) – Professor Opinder Sahota, a consultant in elderly medicine at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Dr Richard Martin, Head of Substance Misuse at NHS Derby City PCT and Derby City Council
NHS Mentor of the Year – Michael Woodhouse, at Addenbrookes NHS Trust Hospital – Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Community Leader of the Year – Natalie Belt, Health Trainer Service Manager at Humber NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Quality Champion of the Year – Brigid Stacey, at Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Award for Inspiration – Paula Vasco-Knight, Chief Executive at South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Newcomer of the Year – Dr Darren Kilroy, Clinical Director for acute and emergency services at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Innovator of the Year – Philip O’Connell, Information Technology Professional at NHS Stoke-on-Trent Clinical Commissioning Group
NHS Partnership of the Year – Integrated Care Pilot, NHS North West London
NHS Board of the Year – York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt opened the awards and NHS medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh hosted the event at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
Jan Sobieraj, managing director at the NHS Leadership Academy, said: “The NHS Leadership Recognition Awards show us by example how the very best leaders and leadership practice makes change happen. Each of the winners has, in one way or another, created an environment where the people around them feel empowered to develop and flourish. This in turn improves the quality of care for patients. I congratulate each and every one of them for the inspirational work they do.”
Hunt said: “I was honoured to open the NHS Leadership Recognition Awards. These inspiring stories are fantastic examples of people with a passion for the highest standards of care. This is the kind of leadership the NHS deserves, and the kind of standards that every NHS patient should experience.”
Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, said: “Outstanding leadership is vital to the NHS and can impact greatly on staff morale and patient outcomes. The NHS Leadership Recognition Awards are a wonderful way to showcase individuals and organisations that are leading by example with high quality leadership. The awards are an opportunity to recognise them, celebrate their achievements and share their good practice nationally.”
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