National achievements

Healthcare assistant (HCA) and valued mentor Tania Spencer has been presented with the prestigious Cavell Star Award, in recognition of her compassionate patient care and "empathic" support for colleagues. 

Congratulations to Dr Frances 'Fran' Game, Diabetologist and Clinical Director for Research and Development at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton, for being internationally recognised with the 2025 Medstar Georgetown Distinguished Achievement Award in Diabetic Limb Salvage. 

Congratulations to UHDB colleague Dr Aklak Choudhury, who has been appointed Clinical Director for Improvement for the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).

Sarah Gay, IT Security Team Leader at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB), has been recognised as one of the leading women in NHS cybersecurity – protecting patient data and keeping vital clinical systems safe – after winning the Women in Cyber Award, presented by the NHS Cyber Associates Network.

With many clinical systems and patient information now held digitally, cybersecurity is more important than ever to protect our patient's data, as well as support our hospitals to provide excellent care and operate effectively. Sarah has played an instrumental role in UHDB's robust cybersecurity, supporting clinical teams to have confidence in their access to safe data and digital systems - allowing them to provide better quality care for patients.

A mother of four now has the 'family she always dreamed of' thanks to lifesaving care from maternity and neonatal staff at Royal Derby Hospital who cared for her twice during two complicated pregnancies - resulting in the team receiving three national awards this week.

Kristen Duffy found out she was pregnant in 2021, aged 40. Kristen and her husband, Mark, already had two children but were delighted to have the opportunity to grow their family.

A collaborative team that was created to offer holistic care to patients with advanced chronic liver disease, has won a prestigious award. 

Dr Claire Grant, Consultant Hepatologist, created an Advanced Cirrhosis Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) which meets fortnightly to review referred patients who have advanced cirrhosis, a life-threatening condition that results from scarring of the liver.

Teams and colleagues from University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) have been shortlisted in three different categories at the Nursing Times Workforce Awards 2024, which recognise those who are exceeding standards in wellbeing, inclusion and development the nursing and midwifery workforce.

Two teams at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) have received national recognition for their innovation and approach to implementing improvements which have directly impact our patients and colleagues.

Both of the projects have been nominated in the Championing Continuous Improvement category of the Smarter Working Live Awards - part of their annual conference being held on Thursday 21 November at the Vox Conference Centre in Birmingham - with the work to embed continuous learning and improvement through the deployment of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), and the digitising of Essential Safety Guides (now known as eGuides) for nurses and healthcare support workers (HSCWs).

Pharmacists across UHDB are “proud to be keeping patients safe even after they leave our care” after being recognised at a national level for their work. The Medicines Optimisation team has worked collaboratively with digital services at the Trust and pharmacies across the region to develop an interface that improves communication with community pharmacies, to help patients have the right medication they need, with safety reviews, after leaving hospital.

Kath Hulkorey, Deputy Lead Nurse for Professional and Practice Development at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB), has been awarded the prestigious Cavell Star Award in recognition of her unwavering compassion, outstanding leadership, and dedication to nursing practice. In a heartwarming surprise ceremony, Garry Marsh, Executive Chief Nurse, and Stephen Posey, Chief Executive, joined colleagues to honour Kath's remarkable contributions. The event was planned by Barbara Day, former Head of Learning and Education on her final day at UHDB before retiring, who was Kath's line manager, along with Karen Hill, Lead Nurse for Professional Standards.

Congratulations to Dr Tanya Bleiker, dermatology consultant at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton, for being honoured with the Sir Archibald Gray Medal, the highest accolade awarded by the British Association of Dermatology, for her dedication and ongoing service to British Dermatology

Congratulations to Professor Adam Gordon, Clinical Associate and Consultant Geriatrician at UHDB, who has been awarded an MBE for his services to older people's healthcare.

Members of the UHDB Carer's Network were joined by colleagues to celebrate the Trust being presented with the Carer Friendly Employer Quality Mark. The accreditation, which is recognised nationally by Carers UK, demonstrates UHDB's commitment to building a supportive and inclusive workplace for colleagues with caring responsibilities, while also using their lived experiences and expertise to continue to support caregivers or those who may need to provide care for a loved one in the future.

Congratulations to Fiona Lindop, a Specialist Physiotherapist at Florence Nightingale Community Hospital, who has been awarded an MBE for Services to Physiotherapy as part of His Majesty The King's New Year's Honours, in recognition of her tireless commitment and contributions to enhancing the lives of patients living with Parkinson's disease.

Teams at both University Hospitals of Derby and Burton's (UHDB) acute hospitals have been recognised nationally for providing the highest standards of care to patients when they are 'at their most vulnerable' as they undergo anaesthesia or sedation.

A University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) Specialist Physiotherapist has been awarded an MBE for Services to Physiotherapy as part of His Majesty The King's New Year's Honours in recognition of their tireless commitment and contributions to enhancing the lives of patients living with Parkinson's disease

UHDB pharmacy technician Gail Hall won the Katherine Miles poster category at this year's Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK conference in Bristol.

Facing strong competition from her peers nationally, Gail produced a thought-provoking poster based on her doctoral research.

A team of compassionate nurses working to ensure more children can receive end of life care at home with their loved ones has been recognised nationally after winning a Nursing Times Award - as well as being shortlisted for a second award. UHDB's Childrens' Community Nursing Team, working in partnership with colleagues from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) and Derbyshire Healthcare United (DHU), formed the 'Derbyshire Paediatric Palliative Care Urgent Response Service', to assist children to die in their own homes with their families and home comforts close by, when they otherwise have been admitted to a hospital or hospice.

An innovative project which embeds medical students into the Patient Experience team to help them gain a deeper understanding of a patient's time spent in hospital has been recognised after being shortlisted for a national award. The Paediatric Medical Students Patient Experience and Quality Improvement Special Study Module (SSM), was developed after colleagues at UHDB identified a gap in the curriculum for students around understanding the full patient journey and the experiences of patients who require admission to our hospitals.

The Urogynaecology unit at Royal Derby Hospital has become one of only 40 sites in country to be recognised at a national level for its high quality care to patients.

UHDB's Radiotherapy team at Royal Derby Hospital have shared their joy after winning a national award for their innovative work introducing tattoo-free radiotherapy treatment for patients with cancer.

We are delighted to announce that one of our respected and well-known colleagues is to be recognised in the first King’s New Year’s Honours List.

Mike Conway, who is part of our UHDB Derbyshire Pathology team has been awarded the MBE by King Charles III for Services to Anatomical Pathology Technology.

Dr Fauzia Begum, Occupational Health Physician at UHDB and Clinical Medical Lead for Derbyshire's Post-Covid Services, has been recognised in the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) Occupational Health Awards 2022.

At the awards ceremony last month, Dr Begum was Highly Commended in the Outstanding Occupational Health Practitioner of 2022 category, following her pioneering work supporting NHS colleagues and patients who are experiencing long covid.

A University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) consultant surgeon has been awarded an MBE for Service to Medicine in the King’s New Year’s Honours.

A UHDB consultant who wanted to be able to offer access to a lifechanging device for her patients with type 1 diabetes, has contributed to an innovative research study which has been hugely successful.

Emma Wilmot, Consultant Diabetologist, has been heavily involved in designing and delivering a multi-centre randomised controlled trial called Flash UK.

Clinicians at UHDB have been shortlisted for a national award for their work to establish community breast pain clinics, aimed at providing better care for patients and reducing unnecessary suspected cancer referrals.

UHDB’s Wellbeing Team is celebrating after being shortlisted for two Nursing Times Workforce Awards for their incredible work supporting colleagues across Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The team is in the running to be crowned ‘Workforce Team of the Year’, as well as being shortlisted for their work on the ‘Do Whatever Moves You’ project in the ‘Best Use of Workplace Technology Award’.

UHDB has been awarded a Gold Award by the Ministry of Defence as part of their Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) which recognises organisations that go above and beyond to support those who serve in the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.