HOSPITAL staff who work tirelessly and go beyond their duty were honoured at a glitzy Southampton awards ceremony.

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

The ceremony, now in its 11th year, saw almost 400 people gather at the home of the Saints, St Mary's Stadium, to honour staff who have been recognised and nominated by their colleagues for the work they do providing care at Southampton General Hospital and further afield.

As well as the winners of the other 14 categories, the winner of the Daily Echo Readers' Choice Award was also announced as paediatric rheumatology nurse specialist at Southampton Children's Hospital Sarah Hartfree.

The audience heard from a range of speakers, including a farewell speech by chief executive Fiona Dalton, who leaves her role at the end of March, as previously reported.

She said: "Moment of truth is often a phrase I hear, and the snow earlier this year was a moment of truth. What I heard, from a senior nurse I think, was that all tracks led to the hospital.

"I was walking through the Common at 6am with people wearing hoods down and boots on, and I knew where they were headed. That shows me how special we all are. I have tried my hardest not to cry!"

Sarah, who is celebrating her 20th year in nursing, said she overwhelmed with the news of her win after being nominated by mother and daughter Donna Marie Wilkins and Gabrielle Archer, for Gabrielle's daughter Isabella May.

She said: "I have heard the word 'humbled' tonight, so I'll go for something different! I am overwhelmed by the news, I was just so thrilled to be nominated, and I never expected to win.

"I do love my job, I so do, and it's amazing to be here with everyone celebrating together. I know Donna and Gabrielle know how grateful I am to them."

Donna said: "She deserves it so much. Like I said when I nominated her, she makes every child feel special and that's something that needs celebrating. She is the same with all of the families."

Gabrielle added: "The support she has offered me is incredible and all of the work she does outside of her role to raise funds just sums her up as a person."

The other categories included winners of the employee of the year, unsung hero and team of the year.

Category list:

  • Employee of the year: Eleanor Homes

  • Team of the year: Maternity bereavement team

  • Leadership award: Mayank Patel

  • Health and wellbeing award: Julia Smedley

  • Education and training award: Claire Wood

  • Inclusive champion: Aiman Alzetani

  • Healthwatch and patient experience award: Gus Seebaran

  • Patient safety award: The Network Team

  • Research individual or team of the year: Senior Leadership Team

  • Hospital charity star: Sam Dale, Holly Racey-Jones and the Finance Team

  • Unsung hero: Craig Hobbs

  • Clinical impact award: Biomedical research centre respiratory nursing team and investigators

  • Always improving: G7 enhanced dementia care unit

  • Daily Echo readers' choice award: Sarah Hartfree