Staff Recognition Awards finalists announced

More than 1,900 nominations were received for the OUH Staff Recognition Awards 2026 – congratulations to all teams, individual members of staff, volunteers, and fundraisers who were nominated, and thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate.

We can now reveal the finalists in each category in advance of the Staff Recognition Awards event, which will be held at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on Thursday 18 June. 

Oxford Hospitals Charity generously supports the Staff Recognition Awards and we are grateful for their help which makes this important celebration of staff achievements possible.

Douglas Graham, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Hospitals Charity, says: 

“We are delighted to support the Staff Recognition Awards once again this year and play our part in thanking NHS staff who drive innovation and provide outstanding levels of care. 

“It’s always a truly inspiring evening, full of the very best of the NHS, and we are really looking forward to this special event.” 

Congratulations to this year’s Staff Recognition Awards finalists, who are listed below – and good luck to them all at the awards event on 18 June when the winners will be announced.

Award for Compassion 
Acute Rehab Support Workers – Complex Medical Unit (CMU)
Cara Heafey
Lucinda Milligan
Jason Rigby

Award for Delivery
Antenatal Infection Group Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT)
Apprenticeship Team
Endoscopy Decontamination Team
Southampton Oxford Retrieval Team (SORT)

Award for Excellence
Sagittarius Team (University-NHS Ulcerative Colitis Flare Programme)
Sterile Service Decontamination Department
Dr Garry Tan
Kerrie Woods

Award for Improvement
Abi Egid
Emergency Department (ED) & Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) Quality Improvement Team
Tissue Donation Team
Zoe Lewis

Award for Learning
Dr Abhisek Ghosh
Mr Alpesh Kothari
Katy Mimpress
Dr Adan Taylor

Award for Respect
Temitayo Alakiu
Community Paediatrics Team
Jonathan Jenkinson
Sam Pemberton

Award for Rising Star
Jay Gawali
Megan Green
Lucy Harold
Melissa Worth

Award for Sustainability
Oxford Kidney Unit
Oxford Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics and Restorative Dentistry Team
Amanda Simpson
Sustainable Eye Care Team

Patients’ Choice Award
Mr Kirana Arambage
Jay Gawali
Candice Noonan
Dawn Sheppard

Oxford Hospitals Charity Award for Supporter or Volunteer of the Year
The finalists in this award category will be announced at a later date.

Chair’s Award and Chief Executive Officer’s Award
Trust Acting Chair, Sarah Hordern and Interim Chief Executive Officer, Simon Crowther will present their awards at the Staff Recognition Awards event on 18 June.