HEROES of healthcare who have clocked up more than 1,000 years of devoted duty between them have been recognised at a hospital ‘Oscars’.

More than 50 awards were presented to staff at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, honouring long service and the hard work and dedication of those who go the extra mile.

The awards ceremony was held at Bradford City Football Club and sponsored by Sovereign Health Care, applauding individuals and teams in a number of categories.

Special awards were also presented at the annual event to 41 members of staff who each had 30 years or more unstinting long service, totalling 1,230 years between them.

Individual award winners received a commemorative certificate, a glass plaque and first prize of £750 and £250 runner-up prize in vouchers donated by Sovereign.

Team of the Year winners received £4,000 prize money, the runner-up £3,000 and the third placed team £2,000 to be re-invested in their own departments.

The trust’s chief executive, Professor Clive Kay, said: “These awards recognise the commitment, innovation, dedication and expertise of our staff and we are proud of the contribution made by each and every one of them for providing excellent patient care across all of our hospitals.

“This year, I believe the calibre of colleagues who were nominated really reached new heights, which made judging very tough indeed. I would like to thank all those who took the time to submit a nomination and congratulate all of those who were successful.”

The awards were presented by Trust chairman Professor Bill McCarthy, vice-chairman of the Council of Governors David Walker and special guest Russ Piper, chief executive of Sovereign Health Care.

They were also part of the short-listing panels which also included the Trust’s executive and non-executive directors, governors and divisional clinical directors.

This year’s Chairman’s Award winner was Professor John Young, for establishing the internationally-renowned Academic Unit of Elderly Care and Rehabilitation at the Bradford Institute for Health Research at Bradford Royal Infirmary. The multidisciplinary team undertakes health services research in elderly care and stroke.

The runner-up was Assistant Chief Nurse, Shelley Bailey. Also shortlisted were consultant paediatrician Becky Bardgett, lead oncology pharmacist Mohammed Patel and therapy co-ordinator/clinical documents workstream lead for electronic patient records Linda Wood.

This year’s Governors’ Award celebrating the work of staff demonstrating excellence in Compassion and Caring was won by Caroline Carass, a sister on infectious diseases Ward 24. Judges were impressed by feedback from patients’ families praising her understanding of cultural, religious and spiritual needs. One patient told judges: “I wish BRI was full of Carolines.”

The clinical award for staff making significant improvement to providing safe and effective care was won by Jill Underwood, ward manager on Ward F6. Judges were told that “Jill is always there when needed – both for her colleagues and patients”. The non-clinical award for a staff member working behind the scenes to support front-line staff and the Trust’s vision was presented to renal department medical secretary Sarah Coope, described by those who nominated her as “a great beacon of warmth and happiness”.

The Trust’s 17th Annual Team of the Year Award went to the Neonatal Video Link Team for developing a first of its kind in the UK Baby View system, a remote video link where a close-up and detailed image of baby in the neonatal unit can be beamed directly to parents wherever they are.

This year’s high standards for that category also saw special commendations made to the Trust’s Ambulatory Care Unit Team, Critical Care Team and Diagnostic Virtual Ward Team.