HOSPITAL staff who work tirelessly to make a difference and go the extra mile were honoured last night at a glamorous Southampton awards ceremony.

Doctors, nurses, support staff and researchers joined volunteers at the climax of the Daily Echo-backed University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust Hospital Heroes awards.

The ceremony, the biggest to date in its tenth year, held at Southampton FC’s St Mary’s stadium, honoured staff who have been recognised and nominated by their colleagues for the work they do providing care at Southampton General Hospital.

More than 300 people were in attendance, both nominees and those who nominated them. The trust received around 160 nominations.

The winners of all 15 awards were celebrated for achievements including education, wellbeing and patient safety, which were all presented by Saints legend Mike Earls.

The awards included the Daily Echo Readers’ Choice category, which was won by Lisa Leppard, who has been a family care sister and neonatal specialist nurse for the past 27 years.

Lisa, from Totton, goes above and beyond her duties to give families hope during difficult times, accompanying them to meetings with doctors and consultants.

Runners up were Jose Horno, a respiratory specialist and Kay Duggan, a midwife who had worked at the Princess Anne Hospital for 41 years before retiring in December.

The audience also heard from Martin Prevett, a consultant in neurology at the UHS’s Ethiopia Chronic Disease Partnership, and Southampton City Council Sheriff, Cllr Les Harris, who opened the ceremony.

Debbi Plumbley, who organises the awards, was delighted at the responses, as the ceremony celebrated its decade anniversary.

She said: “It’s a year in the making to honour these wonderful people, it means so much to them and to us.

“It’s been a brilliant year for everybody involved and what a fantastic way to celebrate them all.”