Quarterly Recognition celebrates staff making a difference

Staff who have gone above and beyond to support patients, colleagues and services across Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) have been recognised at the Trust's latest Quarterly Recognition event.

The celebration brought together recipients of Monthly Recognition Awards, Reporting Excellence recognitions and Long Service Awards from across the Trust.

Supported by Oxford Hospitals Charity, the event recognised staff from across the Trust whose commitment and dedication have made a positive difference for patients, families and those they work alongside.

Among those celebrated through the Reporting Excellence programme was Olivia Davies, Deputy Sister in Paediatric Critical Care.

Despite caring for a busy patient load, Olivia took the time to make Mother's Day cards for every patient, translating them into different languages so that more families could take part. For many parents, it was their first Mother's Day, making the gesture especially meaningful.

Olivia Davies said: "I simply wanted to make sure everyone felt thought of, loved, and included. Families are in the midst of such a difficult time, and I just wanted to make sure every mum had a little moment of joy and knew she was being thought of. It didn’t feel like anything extraordinary to me – it simply felt like a natural thing to do."

The event also celebrated Sam Gregory, a Medicines Effectiveness Practitioner, whose work in responding to a rare medicines recall earned him recognition through the Trust's Monthly Recognition Awards programme. He played a key role in quickly identifying affected patients and helping ensure they received the right advice.

His work helped 41 patients to be contacted promptly, and he has since used the learning from the incident to strengthen future procedures.

Sam Gregory said: "Thank you to my colleague for the nomination, and to the Trust and Oxford Hospitals Charity for putting on such a fantastic event. It was lovely to hear the many wonderful and inspirational stories from staff across the Trust."

Long Service Awards were presented to colleagues whose decades of service have helped shape and support patient care across OUH. Among them was Amarjit Bhamra, who is celebrating 37 years of continuous service at OUH.

Amarjit began her career in the X-ray Department at the John Radcliffe Hospital in 1989 before moving to the Radcliffe Infirmary as a neuroradiographer. Over the years, she has continued to build her career in neuroradiology and remains a valued member of the team today.

Amarjit Bhamra said: "Thank you for my long service award. I am fortunate to have worked with many wonderful colleagues, and I’m grateful to them for making my journey at OUH a memorable one."

The event also showcased a wide range of contributions from across the Trust, including improving care for people with learning disabilities, supporting patients and families at some of the most difficult moments of their lives, championing research and education, and developing innovative ways of improving services. Colleagues from a variety of teams and specialties across OUH sites were recognised for their commitment to patients, families and fellow staff.

The event was attended by Dr Ben Attwood, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Felicity Taylor-Drewe, Chief Operating Officer, and Hazel Murray, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Hospitals Charity. They congratulated recipients and thanked them for their contribution to patients, colleagues and the wider organisation.

Dr Ben Attwood said: "One of the great privileges of events like this is hearing the stories behind the work that happens across our Trust every day. They are a reminder of the dedication, compassion and expertise that colleagues bring to their roles, often making a difference in ways that are not always visible.

"Our Quarterly Recognition programme gives us an opportunity to celebrate those contributions, thank colleagues for the impact they have, and share inspiring examples of the values that are lived every day across OUH.

"We are incredibly proud of everyone being recognised and grateful for everything they do for patients, families and colleagues."

The Quarterly Recognition programme was introduced to give more colleagues the opportunity to be recognised throughout the year for the difference they make every day.