Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden made a surprise appearance at the annual London North-West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) Staff Excellence Awards, held at the iconic Wembley Stadium.
The actress and TV presenter was at the awards to commend the tireless efforts of NHS workers and express her gratitude for the support they’ve extended to her own family.
Amanda Holden’s presence at the ceremony was made possible through an invitation from trust chief executive Pippa Nightingale, who shared a special connection with Amanda.
Pippa had previously assisted in the birth of one of Amanda’s children during her time working as a midwife.
The LNWH Staff Excellence Awards ceremony drew an impressive turnout, with more than 600 dedicated healthcare professionals in attendance.
This year’s awards attracted a remarkable 900 nominations from across the trust, which encompasses Central Middlesex, Ealing, St Mark’s, and Northwick Park hospitals.
The nominations came from both appreciative patients and members of the public who wanted to recognise the exceptional contributions of these healthcare heroes.
The event served as a wonderful occasion for the healthcare staff to come together, reflect on their achievements over the past year, and pay tribute to the individuals and teams that went above and beyond the call of duty.
The evening’s highlights included the announcement of winners across 14 award categories. Some of the notable awardees were:
– Women’s and Children’s Divisional Award: Jacks Place team
– Emergency and Ambulatory Care Divisional Award: Maria Doyle, Discharge Co-ordinator, Acute Medical Unit
– Integrated Clinical Services Divisional Award: Olivia Stewart, Senior MRI Radiographer
– Unsung Hero Award: Sohail Sardar, IT Engineer
– Quality and Improvement Award: Virtual Ward Programme team
– Fundraiser of the Year Award: Krystel Copeland, Assistant General Manager, breast service
– Learner of the Year Award: Michelle Preston, Highly Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist
– Lifetime Achievement Award: Professor Mitch Blair
– Team of the Year Award: Radiology Ultrasound Academy
A special mention went to Central Middlesex Hospital, which received a special award for its remarkable response to an incident earlier in the year when an assailant attacked and injured several individuals on the hospital grounds.
In a touching gesture, the Volunteer of the Year category was renamed in honor of Beryl Carr, the NHS’s longest-serving volunteer at the remarkable age of 101.
The inaugural Volunteer of the Year Beryl Carr Award was proudly presented to the Youth Buddy initiative, honouring the impact of volunteerism in the healthcare sector.
Pippa Nightingale, LNWH Chief Executive, said: “Staff work incredibly hard and every time I have asked more of people they have delivered without fail.
“It was great to see everyone enjoying themselves and I just want to say a big thank you to everyone.”
