This is the list of clinical staff who work with children and parents as part of the wider multidisciplinary team who were nominated for showing exceptional commitment, ability and inspiring their colleagues.
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Dr Mihiar Atfeh
ENT Consultant at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Excellent colleague to work with, compassionate, patient caring, demonstrates exceptional team working
Chris Banks
Play Therapist at Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
For consistently promoting the welfare of our children and for promoting the play team values everyday. Her positivity spreads across the wards and she is a role model for us all, helping us all understand our children more.
Chris is one of our play specialists at Torbay and I’ve never known someone more dedicated to the care of children. She is exceptionally kind and compassionate and will go far above and beyond to ensure children have the best experience whilst in hospital.
She excels in working with children with learning and behavioural difficulties and will spend as much time as the child needs to have a procedure. She quite literally has the patience of a saint.
She is the strongest advocate for the child and will always speak up if she feels that is compromised no matter who it is- be it a nurse or consultant, she’ll be that child’s voice and ensure they are given the best care possible.
She is involved with the kidzmed project at the moment and working hard to train children to swallow tablets, again giving it her all, as she does everything.
Thank you Chris for everything you do.
Holly Barker
Pharmacist at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – EASTERN
As a Pharmacist, she lives to help better the lives of her paediatric patients. She is attentive, friendly and full of compassion and understand for children and their parents, understanding the importance of not only making a child feel at ease, but their parents as well. She has fantastic working relationships, especially us in the Aseptic Pharmacy, where we understand the complexities of her role and childhood cancer, but her bright, bubbly personality make it even easier for us to go above and beyond to make this womans day a little bit easier. She is an inspiration to everyone, and genuinely one of the reasons I continue to do what I do.
Holly is an amazing pharmacist who goes above and beyond for all patients. Holly is a great advocate for patients and makes sure they always receive optimal treatment. Holly has been a great asset to the multidisciplinary team is always tries her best to be available for help and guidance. As a junior member of the nursing team, she always been very supportive to me and any questions or concerns I have due to her extensive knowledge and experience. She is a huge support on the ward and I am very grateful to have her in the team.
It’s a pleasure to work beside Holly. She is the most amazing pharmacist and is always happy to lend a hand. Whether it be offering guidance on a particular drug or talking with the pharmacy regarding prescriptions that can be taken home. She is constantly eager to impart her vast knowledge and share it with others. Your day automatically brightens when you see Holly in the ward, with her beautiful smile. Holly’s assistance has inspired me to strive for excellence in my work. She always interacts positively with patients, families, and her coworkers, making her an incredible role model. When it comes to providing the greatest care for the patients we meet, Holly is the epitome of excellence. Recently I have been working in oncology and around SACT treatment, Holly has been amazing at teaching me all about chemotherapy and other medications that we use. She is always so happy to teach and nothing is ever too much for her. Thank you for all you do!
Holly is the fantastic pharmacist on Bramble. She such a breath of fresh air that floats around Bramble where her presence is always welcome. She is always so smiley and speaks to everyone. No matter how busy the ward is, Holly always ensures patient safety is number one, is always aware of the pressures, making sure that she tells us where she is based whilst on the ward if we need her. Holly always answers her bleep in record time and never makes you feel silly for asking questions. Holly is so approachable and despite a mountain of emails she gets daily, she always ensures she helps anyone, especially me, to understand more about medications and microbiology recommendations. She is always going above and beyond in organising patient TTO’s and ensuring timely safe and timely discharge from the ward. As-well-as tackling some very tricky MAR charts, Holly is hot on the tail of ensuring patients are receiving the correct doses, for the correct number of days, ensuring her documentation is timely so the treatment team are aware of anything. It always lovely to see your smiley, happy face Holly. Thanks for all you do.
The following review was put in for Holly and her colleague as a combined nomination – we have put it here and in her colleague’s nomination too:
Goes above and beyond to support the Bramble team in providing safe and effective care. They are approachable, professional and it appears nothing is too much of an ask, often going out of their way to ensure the best for the patients even if this means running across the hospital to source something required!! They are a wealth of knowledge and actively engage with the nursing team to ensure this knowledge is shared through group teaching sessions and 1:1 learning. They care passionately about wider issues such as access to medications and reducing medication waste something we should all be champions of.
They are always calm, smiley and happy to help even though I am sure they are extremely busy! It is for this reason, and so many others, that they are worthy of this acknowledgment.
Having worked on Bramble ward for QUITE some time I have seen a number of pharmacists come and go. It puts me in a position to have seen people who do their job as they should, and then to see and appreciate when others go above and beyond, and she certainly does this.
There is of course the exceptionally competent and professional way they go about their work. The way they have both made themselves an integral part of the ward team. A visible part of that team – spending a good portion of their day on the ward. The way they make themselves available to answer queries, and actively help sort problems. Their interactions with families and patients not just staff.
Perhaps it is the number of small ways they both make a big difference. Just one example of this is if a drug is required quickly on the ward they will sort this out themselves in pharmacy and personally bring it to the ward.
The pharmaceutical part of the wards work is hugely important and it is very reassuring to know this individual – working as a team, are going the extra mile to support of those giving frontline care.
Kerry Causer
Midwife at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – NORTHERN
Kerry is one of the delivery suite coordinators and has been the midwifery lead on the Periprem project. Her enthusiasm is infectious and her working relationship with her neonatal colleagues is exemplary. She is an absolute delight to work with and her support and encouragement for everyone is amazing.
Susie Costelloe
Dietician at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – EASTERN
Susie goes above and beyond in her support of patients and their families. She will always support medical professionals and offer excellent advice. She is a fantastic communicator and helps explain complex issues to patients and families in an effective and reassuring way. She works in a brilliant multidisciplinary fashion and is hugely skilled and knowledgeable. Susie is a wonderful example of patient centred care and multidisciplinary working. Thank you Susie!
Abbey Cowling
Speech and Language Therapist at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
I am honoured to nominate Abbey, our dedicated Speech and Language Therapist, for the Multidisciplinary Hero Award. Abbey’s contributions to the NICU are invaluable, and her commitment to supporting high-risk infants’ feeding, communication, and developmental needs has made a profound difference in the lives of the babies and families we care for.
Abbey has created and refined individualised care plans for our most vulnerable infants, addressing complex feeding and communication needs with a compassionate, family-centred approach, easing a challenging phase of care for parents and babies with sensitivity and expertise. Her passion and knowledge in early intervention helps optimise long-term outcomes for high-risk infants. She is a valued and highly skilled member of the developmental care team.
Abbey has championed improvement projects, such as elevated side-lying feeding techniques, and provided ongoing education and training to colleagues. She ensures continuity of care, coordinating with community Speech and Language Therapy services for further support as needed, creating a seamless transition for family’s post-discharge from the unit.
Abbey has developed and embedded the Speech and Language Therapy role into the NICU. She is nearing the end of a yearlong Chief Nurse Fellowship Program, which shows her commitment to research, evidence-based practise and service development.
She has a huge passion for empowering families, fostering parent-infant bonds and promoting positive oral feeding experiences and early communication. Her approachable, positive and kind manner enhances professional relationships and collaboration. Abbey is highly regarded and a credit to the Neonatal Therapies Team.
Brooke Davidson
Dietician at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Paediatric dietitian who goes the extra mile to ensure that the best care is received by her patients – both in patient and out patient. She is easily accessible and has excellent communication skills. She is decisive and clear with her decision making which goes a long way in ensuring that tasks are carried out easily.
Katie Davies
Pharmacist at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – EASTERN
I get the pleasure of working alongside Katie. She is the most fabulous pharmacist who is willing to help in any way she can. Whether it’s giving advice about a certain medication or discussing with pharmacy about take home medications. She has a huge amount of knowledge and is always willing to share and teach it. Seeing Katie on the ward with her lovely smile instantly makes you want to smile and makes your day better. With the help of Katie I feel encouraged to do the best within my work. She is an amazing role model, always interacting well with patients, families and her colleagues. Katie exemplifies excellence in carrying out the best care possible for the patients that we see. Katie works hard to make sure medications are prescribed correctly to ensure medications errors, she is always on hand for any medication queries that we may have. Thank you for all you do!
Katie is a fantastic pharmacist and a hugely valued member of the multidisciplinary team. She is kind and approachable and is always present on the ward to assist with any concerns we have. Katie is extremely knowledgeable and goes above and beyond for our patients to make sure they receive optimal treatment and care.
The following review was put in for Katie and her colleague as a combined nomination – we have put it here and in her colleague’s nomination too:
Goes above and beyond to support the Bramble team in providing safe and effective care. They are approachable, professional and it appears nothing is too much of an ask, often going out of their way to ensure the best for the patients even if this means running across the hospital to source something required!! They are a wealth of knowledge and actively engage with the nursing team to ensure this knowledge is shared through group teaching sessions and 1:1 learning. They care passionately about wider issues such as access to medications and reducing medication waste something we should all be champions of.
They are always calm, smiley and happy to help even though I am sure they are extremely busy! It is for this reason, and so many others, that they are worthy of this acknowledgment.
Having worked on Bramble ward for QUITE some time I have seen a number of pharmacists come and go. It puts me in a position to have seen people who do their job as they should, and then to see and appreciate when others go above and beyond, and she certainly does this.
There is of course the exceptionally competent and professional way they go about their work. The way they have both made themselves an integral part of the ward team. A visible part of that team – spending a good portion of their day on the ward. The way they make themselves available to answer queries, and actively help sort problems. Their interactions with families and patients not just staff.
Perhaps it is the number of small ways they both make a big difference. Just one example of this is if a drug is required quickly on the ward they will sort this out themselves in pharmacy and personally bring it to the ward.
The pharmaceutical part of the wards work is hugely important and it is very reassuring to know this individual – working as a team, are going the extra mile to support of those giving frontline care.
Charlotte Drake
Speech and Language Therapist at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – EASTERN
Lottie is absolutely incredible. She is a fountain of knowledge and an excellent communicator with families on the neonatal unit. She advocates for babies during MDT meetings and has no doubt made parents journeys through the neonatal unit easier with her support and guidance with feeding. She is an asset to the neonatal team and we are so lucky to have her!
Lottie is such a valuable member of our team. Her knowledge and expertise is highly respected amongst the wider team and the families we work with benefit greatly from her. Lottie will inform us of her plan to see families and will work around when it suits the family, baby and nurse so to minimise disruption. She will carry out a comprehensive assessment of the baby’s feeding ability sometimes coming back to observe two or more times to get the full picture. She will then explain her observations and recommendations in full to both the parents and nursing team and will take the time to answer questions and further educate nursing staff on what to look for in the future. She will write up her notes clearly both on the patients chart and print off key points and hang them clearly in the baby’s room so consistency is maintained by everyone following the same plan. She observes things no-one else does and she is not afraid of being involved in complex cases alongside the wider multidisciplinary team. She will ask for the opinions of the medical and nursing staff and humbly take on board our assessments while working with the families. This input has a huge impact on babies and their families. From preventing babies from being fed before they are ready, to avoiding aspiration and oral aversion, to empowering parents to feel confident in their ability to feed their babies. She is a passionate advocate for breastfeeding but understands the difficulties many families face on their feeding journey. She is completely non-judgemental and extremely compassionate. It is an absolute pleasure to work with Lottie and she whole heartedly deserves this award.
Lottie is such an asset to the team – she so often goes above and beyond for families to ensure they are well supported. She’s a true advocate for her tiny patients working collaboratively with parents and staff to ensure optimal outcomes. She is also an excellent source of knowledge and support for other members of the team.
Lottie is a really valuable presence on the NNU. She takes so much time to support babies and families and then works closely with the MDT to achieve the best possible management plan for the baby. She is willing to discuss and share learning and she always seems to have time to give advice when I ask. She is positive and approachable and supportive and I really enjoy working with her. She also has great hair.
Deana Dumbreck
Dietician at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – EASTERN
Deana is a senior specialist dietitian for the eating disorder service with unmatchable knowledge and enthusiasm. She is without doubt the powerhouse of the team and responsible for making significant changes that have improved every aspect of the service. Deana has a constant drive for information and improvement and confidently speaks up for the needs of the young people we serve. Deana is an inspiration to work with and drives us all to strive for improvement. Over the last few years, Deana has adapted to the changing needs of our service users and has supported us to do the same.
Lynn Fitzpatrick
Dietician at Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
Lynn is a great dietician who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the managing eating team. She is passionate about her work and working with her patients. She strives to always do the best for our patients by ensuring we are up to date in our approaches and in line with any new evidence. She is hard-working and reliable. She empowers and encourages others within the team to deliver excellent care. Thank you Lynn for being great.
Hayley Jeffery
Play specialist at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – NORTHERN
As one of Caroline Thorpe Ward’s play specialists. Hayley has pushed to improve the service that is offered to patients and their families. This has included the design and implementation of a play leaflet so that the wider hospital is aware of the service and what the play team can offer them with regards to distraction pre visits etc. Hayley has also worked hard on the Amazon wish list which the ward now has so that we can direct families and local businesses to choose donations from there so that we get what the ward needs. Hayley has an amazing relationship with our young people and having her on shift can be the difference between a bad experience and an amazing one
Claire Loader
Physiotherapist at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
It is with great admiration that I nominate Claire for the Multidisciplinary Hero Award, recognising her remarkable contributions to Neonatal Physiotherapy and her unwavering dedication to the long-term well-being of children and their families. Claire brings extensive expertise and innovative practice to her role, making her an asset and leader within the NICU therapy team and advocate for championing the role of Allied Health Professionals in neonatal care.
In her specialised work with babies in the NICU and neuro-developmental follow-up, Claire consistently demonstrates clinical excellence. She has not only established and advanced the Neonatal Physiotherapy role but also enriched it, focusing on neurodevelopmental outcomes for premature infants. Her depth of knowledge and hands-on approach ensure that each child receives tailored support, and families feel informed, supported, and empowered throughout their journey.
Claire is deeply committed to the professional development of her colleagues. She frequently offers training sessions for nursing and medical staff, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. Her openness to having others shadow her work further underscores her commitment to education and mentorship.
Furthermore, Claire recently undertook a yearlong Chief Nurse Fellowship Program, undertaking a quality improvement project on the unit, highlighting her dedication to evidence-based practice and her proactive approach to improving neonatal care. Her commitment to research demonstrates her desire to see every child achieve their full developmental potential.
Above all, Claire embodies the qualities of kindness, compassion, and resilience. She consistently brings positivity and empathy into her work. She is an inspiring example of excellence in Paediatric Physiotherapy Practice.
Edwin Maddicott
PA at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – EASTERN
He have a great communication and listening skills, to build trust with children, their families and carers. He is an amazing Physician assistant.
Katie Middleton
Physiotherapist at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Katie is a Physio who is a force to be reckoned with. Her patients absolutely love her, although some will hide to attempt to dodge Physio, however due to her excellent interactions and knowledge of her various patients and their characters she is usually able to win them round. It is always good to have Katie on the ward, she is an important part of the team and through her knowledge and experience is able to empower the nursing staff to carry out various techniques to support our patients.
Has Great patient/ parent relationships, very knowledgable and professional. Always looking out for best interests of patients
Natasha Moore
Pharmacist at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Tash is a fantastic member of the team who always goes above and beyond for the patients in HDU. She has taken on so many commitments since joining us and is an inspiration to her team, all to the benefit of the patient. Her pharmacy knowledge is exemplary and if she doesn’t know, she will always find someone who does and make sure to get back to you. Tash makes working alongside her a breeze, so easy to get along with and no job is too difficult. Thank you
Nuria Pellicer Payet
Pharmacist at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – NORTHERN
As our paediatric pharmacist you are endlessly helpful and coach us all through some confusion processes. Is kind and accessible. Thank you for all the hard work you do.
Dellen Prescott
Infant Feeding Team Lead at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Dellen is nominated for this award as our outstanding Neonatal Infant Feeding Team Lead. She has gone above and beyond to establish and develop this vital role within the service. Dellen lead the team towards being fully reaccredited as Baby Friendly. She is a board certified lactation consultant, which demonstrates her high standards of her own expectations. Her calm and knowledgeable demeanour epitomises the standards expected of such an essential part of the team. The nurses and families would be lost without her.
Dr Simon Thorogood
Consultant Radiologist at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Simon is a consultant radiologist and, as part of the radiology team, provides exemplary support and advice to the paediatric team. His knowledge is so expert and there is (apparently) never a stupid question! He is polite and kind, organised and accommodating. Thanks for being so superb!
Cassie Vallence
Play specialist at Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
Cassie is a fantastic play specialist in Torbay. She is like a constant ball of joy and energy. She is a fantastic communicator, is innovative and shows great leadership skills. Her communication skills with both professionals, patients and their families is amazing. She empowers, enables and encourages both the team and all the families she works with.
Gemma Wright
Cardiac Scientist at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Gemma is our cardiac scientist. She is a force to be reckoned with! Gemma is making amazing progress in pushing herself and her role to be exemplars within the region and she is achieving it. Gemma is a fantastic echocardiographer and is developing amazing interpretation and management skills – gaining the trust and confidence not only from the clinical team but also patients and families. The wider team highly value her services and skills and the diversity and flexibility she brings to our team is invaluable. Gemma is developing her skills and our services to bring us to the cutting edge of the network as a leader and innovator in the region. Not just for echo, but also for physiology, teaching and training and service development and QI – she can do it all Keep pushing Gemma – you are doing brilliantly!
Beth Young
Physician associate at Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
Beth is a fantastically skilled clinician with a great knowledge of both paediatrics and the systems within the hospital. She is an absolute asset to the wider team and has taken on additional responsibility within the eating disorder team, providing a fantastic link. As a resident doctor, her patience in helping to support us as we rotate through paediatrics is so appreciated.
She’s just bloody amazing. So glad Beth is working with our team. Hardworking and dedicated. She has exceptional communication skills. Has perfectly gone the firm but fair approach our patients need. They respond beautifully to her, patients and families alike. She gets stuck in with service development and is always keen on innovation. She makes an amazing bridge between the managing eating service and the ward.
I’m so glad you are part of the team Beth!
Over the last 18 months Beth has evolved and flourished as a clinician and as a hugely important member of our department in Torbay. There has been a growing challenge to the role of physician associates, and Beth has dealt with this admirably, tolerating multiple changes in her job plan and showing her chameleon-like ability to adapt to work with change.
Beth has flexed into working within the eating disorders team. She has blossomed and developed in this role, particularly providing clinical continuity for young people who are inpatients on the ward. This is both crucial to maintaining good care for these young people, as well as being a huge help for the clinical teams looking after them.
She continues to offer brilliant clinical skills and support to the tier 1 team on a day to day basis and is frankly indispensable as a member of our core team.
Most remarkable has been her calm tolerance of these changes, her consistently positive, helpful and proactive attitude and the tenacity, skill and professionalism with which she has dealt with the disruptions.
Beth is our PA at Torbay and is the absolute bedrock of the Child health team. She truly doesn’t realise how much she is respected and valued but we would be absolutely lost without her. She supports both the medical and nursing team and constantly strives for the best possible clinical care of children and their families. She’s a strong advocate and always speaks up if she is concerned about anything.
She is an oracle and is the go to for any queries about processes or how things work and provides such support to the rotating junior drs.
She brings fun to the team, I miss her when she is not on shift!
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We use the nomination text and categories as provided by those who submit the nomination.
If there are any issues with the nomination pages (errors, people placed in the wrong category or any other concerns) please email s.janoff@nhs.net
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We will use the following criteria for creating the shortlist and choosing the final winner:
Multidisciplinary Hero:
1. Demonstrates excellence in fulfilment of their work with children and families.
2. Demonstrates excellence in their interactions with colleagues and patients
3. Empowers, enables and encourages their colleagues through their work.
4. Embodies the values of RCPCH*
PAFTAs 