A GLITZY awards ceremony saw staff from the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Trust rewarded for their hard work and commitment.

Individuals and teams from across the health care spectrum were represented at the Staff Excellence Awards, held at the Royal Bath Hotel and compered by trust chief executive Tony Spotswood.

Winners were announced in categories ranging from services to the community and leadership to putting patients first and innovation in clinical practice.

And one of the highlights of the evening was the Daily Echo sponsored Unsung Heroes Award, won by Jan Boot, a Colorectal Nurse Specialist, who had been nominated by several members of the public.

Comments made by the public included: “As long as Jan is within your reach, your problems are dealt with in a very efficient manner and makes you feel that life is worth living.”

Another said: “There is no doubt that Jan really touches the lives of so many people and her great dedication to her work gives many of us the confidence we need after the diagnosis of that dreaded ‘big C’.”

And a third added: “Jan could not be more committed to her work – she always gives so much, she is very approachable and a good listener.”

Nominees and winners were as follows: Award for Infection Prevention and Control. Nominees were Microbiology Laboratory manager Barry Weston, Ward 1 and the Haematology Oncology Unit. The winner was Barry Weston.

Award for Services to the Community. Nominees were hospital volunteers Leila Heydon and Celia Fern.

The winner was Leila Heydon.

Award for Leadership. Nominees were Clinical Leaders Carol Groves, Sarah Allaway and Sarah Goulbourne.

The winner was Carol Groves.

Team of the Year Award. Nominees were the Productive Ward Pilot Team, the Orthodontic Admin Team and the IT and Stroke Team.

The winner was the Productive Ward Pilot Team.

Award of Department of the Year. Nominees were Stroke Services, Clinical Site Team, Endoscopy Department and Health Records Team.

The winner was Stroke Services.

Working in Partnership Award. Nominees were IT and Stroke Team, MERIT and the Respiratory Early Discharge (RED) Team.

The winner was RED.

Putting Patients First Award. Nominees wre Emergency Care Team, porter Chris Roach and nurse Heather Betreen.

The winner was Heather Betreen.

Customers Service Award. Nominees were PALS co-ordinator Linda Witchell and catering assistants Maggie Goddison, Suriner Seymour-Smith and Zhibin Zhu Morgan.

The winner was Linda Witchell.

Innovation in Clinical Practice Award. Nominees were the IT and Stroke Team and nurse Gill Scrivens.

The winner was Gill Scrivens.

Excellence in Patient Safety. Nominees were nurse Trudi Ellis, the Productive Ward Pilot Team, David Stockdale, Alexa Dodd and Louisa Way.

The winner was Trudi Ellis.

Daily Echo Unsung Heroes Award. Nominees were the Macmillan Unit, Janet Hiscock and Jan Boot.

The winner was Jan Boot.

The chairman’s award was won by Barry Weston,the Mentor Awards by Anna Cooper and Anthony Young and the David Stern Awards by Alexa Dodd, David Stockdale, Louisa Way, Tracey Aldin, Penny Corella and Val Garlick.