Revealed: your Barts Health Heroes for 2025 | Our news

 

Live reporting by the Communications team 

Summary

• The 2025 Barts Health Heroes Awards took place on Wednesday 12 February at The Brewery in central London.
• There were ten awards in total celebrating the very best of Barts Health, including five team and five individual prizes.
• The event included the Barts Charity Awards.
• Find out who scooped an award and why in our live blog below.
• Nominations for the 2026 Barts Health Heroes are now open.

 

10.15pm

That's a wrap!

Thank you for following our coverage tonight! 🌟

We hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about the incredible achievements of our inspirational staff and volunteers who go above and beyond every day. Their dedication, compassion, and hard work truly make a difference to our patients and communities.

Let’s continue to recognise and celebrate the heroes who make Barts Health so special by making a nomination today! Meanwhile, enjoy this picture of all of our winners up on stage. 💙

 

9.50pm

Patients’ Choice (team award)

🎉 Winner: Rainbow Centre, Newham Hospital

The Rainbow Centre team, including clinical nurse specialists Kady and Jacqui, and consultant Dr. Ravi, provided unwavering support to a patient undergoing intensive chemotherapy while managing A-levels. The team’s compassion and dedication made a significant difference during a challenging time, and the patient has expressed deep gratitude for their care. Their commitment has inspired the patient to pursue a future in medicine, with the goal of returning to Newham as a qualified doctor to give back the support they received.

 

9.45pm

Patients’ Choice (individual award)

🎉 Winner: Samantha Miles, leukaemia and stem cell transplant CNS, St Bartholomew’s Hospital

Samantha has been a constant source of support for a patient undergoing leukaemia treatment, providing care and reassurance from diagnosis through to ongoing treatment. Her dedication extends beyond working hours, always going the extra mile to ensure patients and families feel supported. Her kindness, commitment, and compassionate care have made a lasting impact, and she is deeply appreciated by both patients and families.

 

9.40pm

WeBelong Award

🎉 Winner: Equity in Care: Skin Tone Diversity Education in Pressure Damage Prevention, Whipps Cross Hospital

Following an increase in hospital-acquired pressure ulcers, a programme was launched to address gaps in assessing dark-toned skin. Over 200 staff attended training on inclusive skin assessments, helping raise awareness of skin tone bias. This initiative has enhanced staff knowledge and improved patient care, ensuring better detection and prevention of pressure damage for all patients.

 

9.35pm

Innovation and Impact Award

🎉 Winner: ELoPe Staff CVD Check project, group-wide

The ELoPe Staff CVD Check programme tackles health inequalities by offering on-site cardiovascular health checks for NHS staff, particularly those in high-risk groups. With over 1,500 staff screened, the programme has led to referrals for further care and distributed free blood pressure monitors to support at-home health management. It’s already improving staff morale, wellbeing, and overall health outcomes.

 

9.30pm

People’s Choice Award

🎉 Winner: Amy Bowen, patient transport ambulance assistant, group-wide

Amy’s quick thinking and compassion shone through when she assisted a woman in labour in a car park. Despite challenging circumstances, she supported the mother, kept the newborn warm with her jacket, and ensured their safety until the paramedics could complete their care. Her actions reflect her incredible dedication and are a credit to the Patient Transport team.

 

8.25pm

Rising Star Award

🎉 Winner: Anila Muralilal, maternity clinic manager, Whipps Cross Hospital

Anila’s kindness, patience, and dedication have transformed the Antenatal Admin team. Always smiling and going above and beyond for both staff and patients, her work ethic and commitment leave a lasting impression on everyone she supports.

 

8.15pm

WeImprove Award

🎉 Winner: Nuclear Medicine, St Bartholomew’s Hospital

Over the past year, the Nuclear Medicine team has transformed from one of the Trust’s most challenged departments into a flagship service. Through new leadership, staff collaboration, and innovative improvements, they’ve achieved excellent CQC inspections, boosted staff retention, and introduced transformative patient services. Their remarkable journey inspires everyone at Barts Health.

 

8.10pm

WeLead Award

 🎉 Winner: Elly Brockbank, consultant gynaecological oncologist, The Royal London Hospital

Elly is a dedicated leader who has driven improvements in care with compassion and innovation. Under her guidance, the team achieved the best one-year ovarian cancer survival rates in England. She also spearheaded the robotic surgery programme at Barts Health, securing funding for new equipment that benefits patients across multiple specialties. A true advocate for outstanding care.

 

8.05pm

Living Our Values (individual award)

🎉 Winner: Mohamed Hassan, pathology reception supervisor, East and South East London

Hassan is a caring and compassionate colleague who uplifts others with his kindness and support. He takes extra initiative to help team members achieve their goals, finish competencies, and improve the department. For his dedication and hard work, Mohamed truly embodies our WeCare values. 

Here, Kat Davison accepts the award on behalf of Mohamed.

Living Our Values (team award)

🎉 Winner: Maternity and Security Team, Newham Hospital

When a male visitor attempted to remove a baby from the ward, the team acted quickly and courageously to intervene. Despite being pushed to the floor, they managed to safeguard the baby and ensure the man was removed from the hospital. A remarkable display of bravery and dedication to patient safety.

 

8pm

Shane DeGaris opens the Barts Health Heroes Awards

Shane DeGaris, group chief executive of Barts Health, opens the 2025 Barts Health Heroes Awards by emphasising the importance of recognition and celebrating staff achievements. Reflecting on the past year, he highlights the success of the Barts Hearts recognition platform, which has seen over 80,000 messages exchanged among staff. He says, “That’s the power of Barts Hearts — it captures the moments that define us.”

Acknowledging the challenges facing the NHS, he adds, “Celebrating our people – your commitment, skill, and resilience — is more important than ever.” He also highlights the strong bond Barts Health shares with its east London community, concluding, “Tonight, take it all in. Enjoy the recognition, the celebration, and the appreciation of your peers that you so rightly deserve.”

 

7.30pm

Barts Charity champions announced

The winners of this year’s Barts Charity Awards have been revealed!

 Individual Champion

🎉 Annamaria Minicozzi, colorectal consultant surgeon, The Royal London Hospital

🎉 Nancy Whiskin, group head of volunteers, Barts Health

Team Champion

🎉 Tara Mastracci and Remi Apata-Omisore (social prescribing), St Bartholomew’s Hospital

🎉 Wellbeing team, Whipps Cross Hospital

Fundraising Champion

🎉 Fiona Thomas and the breast services team, Whipps Cross Hospital

Congratulations to all the winners!

 

7.30pm

Welcome from the Chair

Adam Sharples, acting chair of Barts Health, opens tonight’s Barts Health Heroes Awards, praising the finalists for their outstanding contributions. "To our finalists here tonight — you’ve each gone that extra mile, setting a standard of excellence for patient care and embodying the teamwork that makes Barts Health outstanding," he says.

He also encourages everyone to share in the celebration, adding, "Tonight is about celebrating each other and creating memories to last. Feel free to capture memories on social media with the hashtag #BHHeroes2025." The evening is a chance to honour the exceptional dedication of Barts Health staff and volunteers.

 

6.30pm

Tonight's hosts

Our fabulous hosts tonight are Maudrian Burton, lead CQ facilitator at Barts Health, and Tadala Kolawole, senior renal dietitian at The Royal London Hospital. They will be guiding all of our guests through each of the awards this evening.

 

4.30pm

Final preparations

Final preparations are underway as we get ready to celebrate the Barts Health Heroes!

Doors open to invited guests from 6.30pm.

Good luck to all our incredible shortlisted teams and individuals – you should be so proud of making it this far, standing out among over 1,000 high quality nominations.

We’ll be sharing the winners throughout the evening, so stay tuned.

If you’re joining us tonight, we can’t wait to see you. If not, we hope you’ve enjoyed the coverage so far.

Don’t forget to check out Barts Health on Instagram @nhsbartshealth for more highlights from the night!

 

3.45pm

How do I nominate someone for a Barts Health Heroes award?

Nominating someone for a Barts Health Heroes award is simple and open to everyone. All staff members and volunteers are eligible, and patients can submit nominations too.

Nominations are open year-round, so you can put forward anyone who has gone the extra mile. It doesn’t take long, and you can even use our handy guide to make it easier.

Each month, a Hero of the Month is chosen from your nominations for each hospital, so there are lots of chances to celebrate outstanding contributions all year round.

For this year’s awards, nominations closed on 1 October 2024, with over 1,000 submissions reviewed by our expert judging panel. The finalists were announced in December, and tonight we’ll reveal who takes home our ten coveted awards!

 

3.15pm

A look back at last year

In 2024 Ward 5D wellbeing champions from St Bartholomew’s were named our WeBelong award winners. Judges loved their ‘Multicultural Monday’ initiative, where staff celebrated one another’s cultures by bringing in food to share. They said: “We printed recipe cards for anyone who wanted to replicate a dish they liked. It had a really good turnout, and we had porters, domestic staff, the inclusion team, staff nurses, doctors, housekeepers, and our deputy chief executive, Justin Creigh, visit the ward and share food with us.”

 

2.30pm

Barts Charity Awards also taking place tonight

As part of tonight's ceremony, Barts Charity will handing out their annual awards to staff, volunteers and supporters.

Good luck to all the nominees in the Individual Champion, Team Champion, and Fundraising Individual categories!

 

1.45pm

Living Our Values team award: meet your final set of finalists

Our final team award left to preview — these teams exemplify our WeCare values in everything they do.

⭐ Education Academy postgraduate OSCE team, group-wide
Guiding overseas nurses with pastoral care and training, they create confident, skilled professionals ready to deliver exceptional patient care.

⭐ Maternity and security team, Newham Hospital
Quick thinking and bravery from the team ensured a baby’s safety, confronting and stopping a dangerous situation on the ward.

⭐ Outpatient reception team, St Bartholomew’s Hospital
Welcoming and reassuring, this team ensures every patient feels respected, cared for, and supported from the moment they arrive.

⭐ Paediatric diabetes dietitians, Group-wide
Supporting over 720 children with diabetes, they innovate care with culturally inclusive tools and collaborative cross-site efforts.

Which team inspires you the most? Catch up on all of our shortlisted services and share your thoughts below!

 

12.15pm

Your WeImprove award finalists

These teams have delivered outstanding improvements in their services.

⭐ Collaborative working in the Eye Treatment Centre, Whipps Cross Hospital
Weekly teamwork and a formal escalation process have reduced serious incidents, preventing delays that previously caused irreversible sight loss.

⭐ Nuclear Medicine, St Bartholomew’s Hospital
From high risk to a flagship service: a leadership overhaul, collaboration, and innovation have transformed safety, morale, and patient care.

⭐ Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery (ERACS), St Bartholomew’s Hospital
Dr Bonnie Kyle’s programme has cut patient stays by three days, saving 700 bed days while boosting recovery outcomes and satisfaction.

⭐ 24-hour stroke rehabilitation initiative, Newham Hospital (pictured)
Dynamic recovery activities like exercise classes and breakfast clubs improve outcomes, reduce anxiety, and promote wellbeing for stroke patients.

 

12pm

Patients' Choice: your finalists revealed

These teams have been nominated for giving excellent care and enhancing patient experiences.

⭐ BAME support group for pregnant women, Whipps Cross Hospital
A supportive, empowering space for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic women during pregnancy, improving antenatal care and giving women a voice.

⭐ Bowel cancer screening programme, Mile End Hospital
A compassionate team putting patients at ease during screenings, delivering excellent care and building trust in their community.

⭐ Rainbow Ward, Newham Hospital (pictured)
A leukaemia survivor credits this team’s kindness and support for inspiring her dream of returning as a doctor.

⭐ Tower Hamlets Frailty Virtual Ward, The Royal London Hospital
Praised by patients and families as “exceptional” and “faultless,” this team delivers outstanding personalised care

 

11.45am

Spread a little love

It’s been one year since we launched Barts Hearts – our very own recognition platform – and what a year it has been!

In just 12 months, over 80,000 hearts have been sent – that’s one every six minutes – sharing kindness, gratitude, and appreciation across the Trust.

Barts Hearts is all about celebrating the small moments that mean so much. It’s a way to say “thank you,” “well done,” or simply let someone know they’re appreciated.

So, as we mark one year of Barts Hearts, why not join in and spread the love? If you haven’t sent your first heart yet, now’s the perfect time. Let’s keep the kindness flowing! ❤️

 

11.15am

Your WeBelong award finalists

We’re spotlighting our WeBelong finalists, teams that work collectively to eliminate discrimination and inequality across Barts Health. Here are this year’s nominees:

⭐ Communications and engagement team: Barts Hearts, group-wide
Barts Hearts has been the Trust’s most successful engagement platform to date, fostering inclusion with over 80,000 messages exchanged in less than a year, bringing people together across sites and roles and recognising their everyday acts of kindness.

⭐ Equity in care: skin tone diversity education, Whipps Cross Hospital
This innovative education programme addresses skin tone bias in pressure damage prevention, training over 200 staff and embedding inclusive assessments in clinical practice.

⭐ Innovation for healthcare inequalities programme, St Bartholomew’s Hospital
This team optimised cardiovascular care for underserved communities, improving therapy uptake by 39% and reducing health inequalities across diverse groups in north east London.

⭐ Tissue viability nurses, Whipps Cross Hospital
The team tackled skin tone bias in wound care, pioneering training and awareness to improve assessments for patients with darker skin tones and enhance equity in care.

Who gets your vote? Let us know in the comments!

 

10.30am

Your WeLead award finalists

The WeLead category honours leaders who inspire, motivate, and support those around them with compassion and dedication. Here are this year’s finalists:

⭐ Alessia Marciano, junior sister, Whipps Cross Hospital
Alessia’s diligent safeguarding and compassionate care helped a vulnerable mother disclose domestic abuse, ensuring safety and trust for the mother and her child.

⭐ Antonio Escucha, charge nurse, Newham Hospital
Antonio is a pillar of support for his team, leading by example, sharing his expertise, and creating a culture of trust and teamwork.

⭐ Elly Brockbank, consultant gynaecological oncologist, The Royal London Hospital
Elly’s leadership has driven advancements in robotic surgery and achieved top survival rates for ovarian cancer patients nationally.

⭐ Folashade Lawal-Balogun, senior sister, St Bartholomew’s Hospital
Fola’s unwavering kindness and support helped a colleague navigate a life-changing challenge with strength, compassion, and love.

Who will be named our WeLead winner tonight? Stay tuned!

 

9.30am

The Heroes trophy

Standing over seven inches tall and made of solid glass, the Barts Health Heroes trophy is a proud symbol of achievement, displayed in offices and departments across the Trust.

Here is Ruquyya Vankad, chaplain at Whipps Cross Hospital, who won the Rising Star award last year.

Who will be taking one home tonight?

 

9am, Wednesday 12 February

Tonight is the night!

The big day is here — tonight, the 2025 Barts Health Heroes Awards take place at The Brewery in London. It’s going to be an exciting evening celebrating the incredible staff and volunteers who make Barts Health extraordinary.

Throughout the day, we’ll be building up to the event and showcasing more of our amazing finalists.

Are you joining us tonight? Let us know what you're most looking forward to in the comments or send us an email.

 

5pm

That’s a wrap for day one!

Thank you for joining us on day one of our Barts Health Heroes Awards coverage. Tomorrow, we’ll be spotlighting more inspirational individuals and teams shortlisted for awards, sharing their stories and why they’ve been nominated.

We’ll also be building the excitement as we count down to the big night at The Brewery.

We hope you’ve enjoyed today’s updates and will follow along as the action unfolds tomorrow. See you then!

 

4.45pm

Spotlight on: Rising Star finalists

This award celebrates exceptional individuals who are making a remarkable impact early in their careers.

⭐ Anila Muralilal, antenatal clinic manager, Whipps Cross Hospital
Anila’s dedication to patients and her team has transformed the antenatal service. Always kind, patient, and smiling, she goes above and beyond every day to ensure exceptional care.

⭐ Madhavi Padala, community dietitian, Newham Hospital
Madhavi’s personalised nutritional plans have made a profound impact on her patients, helping them regain strength and improve their health with compassion and expertise.

⭐ Molly Hilling, lead nurse for acute brain injury, The Royal London Hospital
Molly’s Traumatic Brain Injury Passport has revolutionised patient care, improving safety and support for patients and families across hospitals nationwide.

⭐ Zahra Ahmadian-Moghadam, senior midwife, The Royal London Hospital
Zahra’s compassionate care and dedication to addressing every patient’s concern make her a shining example of excellence in maternity care.

A huge well done to our incredible Rising Stars — we can’t wait to honour your achievements tomorrow!

 

4.15pm

Spotlight on: Living Our Values finalists

As we count down to tomorrow night, let’s take a moment to celebrate the incredible individuals shortlisted for the Living Our Values individual award. These finalists exemplify our WeCare values in everything they do:

⭐ Cyril Schaegis, receptionist, Newham Hospital
Cyril’s commitment to inclusivity shines through his dedication to the LGBTQ+ network, tirelessly promoting Barts Health as an inclusive organisation.

⭐ Joana Amponsah, kitchen assistant, Whipps Cross Hospital
Joana went above and beyond to fulfil a small but meaningful request for a patient at the end of life, showing compassion and care that made a real difference.

⭐ Mohamed Hassan, pathology reception supervisor, East and South East London
Known for his kindness and unwavering support, Mohamed goes the extra mile to uplift his colleagues and improve his department every day.

⭐ Pamela Taft, patient advice and liaison service officer, St Bartholomew’s Hospital
Pamela is the backbone of PALS at Barts, providing exceptional support to patients and families when they need it most.

Good luck to all our finalists — we can’t wait to celebrate you tomorrow night!

 

4pm

Historic home to a famous coach

Fun fact: For over 100 years, the Speaker of the House of Commons' coach was kept at The Brewery, pulled by Whitbread shire horses. Built for William III in the late 17th century, it was later passed to Speaker Charles Shaw Lefevre, who married into the Whitbread family. Weighing almost three tons, it is the oldest of the great state coaches and is only used on rare occasions.

 

3.45pm

About our venue: The Brewery

Tomorrow night, the Barts Health Heroes Awards will be held at The Brewery, located on Chiswell Street, near Moorgate. The venue has a rich history, originally the home of the Whitbread brewery, which was founded in 1742. Whitbread was one of the largest breweries in the country and a key part of East London’s industrial past. The site brewed beer for over 250 years before it was transformed into the stunning venue it is today.

Now a modern space with plenty of character, The Brewery’s mix of history and contemporary style makes it the perfect place to celebrate our outstanding colleagues.

Doors open at 6:30pm for finalists and guests, and we can’t wait to kick off the evening!

 

3pm

A look back at last year

At the 2024 Barts Health Heroes Awards, Fatima Begum, a speech and language therapy co-worker from Mile End Hospital, took home the Patients’ Choice Individual Award.

Fatima drew on her own experience as a parent of deaf children to transform the way she supports patients and families. She introduced a range of activities, including weekly walking groups, home visits, telephone support, and even theatre trips!

Reflecting on her work, she said: “I get inspired by the positive impact I have on my children as well as all the families I support.”

This year, the finalists for the Patients’ Choice Individual Award are:

⭐ Samantha Miles, clinical nurse specialist, St Bartholomew’s Hospital
Samantha’s care, dedication, and tireless support for a young leukaemia patient and their family have been extraordinary, often staying late to ensure they feel fully supported.

⭐ Ruby Alek, cancer support worker, Newham Hospital
Ruby’s compassion and advocacy have transformed the experience for cancer patients and families, ensuring dignity, comfort, and outstanding support at every step.

⭐ G loria Guah, midwife, The Royal London Hospital
Gloria has been a lifeline for one family across three pregnancies, going above and beyond to provide safe deliveries and exceptional kindness during difficult moments.

⭐ Eleni Athanasakos, lead paediatric clinical scientist, The Royal London Hospital
Eleni’s expert and compassionate care for a young girl with a chronic condition has transformed her life, bringing hope and relief to her family.

 

2pm

Spotlight on: People’s Choice individual finalists

This award celebrates staff who have been nominated by colleagues for consistently going above and beyond.

⭐ Amy Bowen, patient transport driver, group-wide
Amy sprang into action during a car park birth, keeping the newborn warm and supporting the mother with exceptional care — a true hero in an extraordinary moment.

⭐ Haaris Ahmad, ward clerk, Whipps Cross Hospital
Haaris stepped up when left to run the department alone, handling complex tasks with precision and ensuring urgent patient needs were met.

⭐ Majeed Hussain, security officer, The Royal London Hospital
Majeed’s bravery and quick thinking prevented a dangerous incident in the emergency department, safeguarding patients and staff from harm.

⭐ Sogha Khawari, neurosurgery SpR, The Royal London Hospital
Sogha’s inspiring leadership, teamwork, and commitment to teaching have made her a standout among colleagues and junior doctors alike.

Good luck to all our incredible finalists — we look forward to celebrating you tomorrow!

 

1pm

How do you win a Barts Health Heroes award?

Did you know that all staff and volunteers are eligible for a Barts Health Heroes award? Nominations are open all year, and anyone – including patients – can put someone forward.

It’s quick and easy to nominate someone you think has gone above and beyond — we even have a handy guide to help you.

For this year’s awards, nominations closed on 1 October 2024. Our expert judging panel had the tough job of reviewing an impressive 1,171 nominations, just slightly fewer than last year.

The finalists were revealed in December, and now the big question remains... who will take home the awards? Find out on Wednesday night as we celebrate their incredible achievements!

 

11.45am

February is all about recognition at Barts Health! 🎉

This month, we’re shining a light on the incredible people who make our Trust what it is. As well as our Barts Health Heroes Awards, we’re celebrating one year of Barts Hearts and honouring our long-serving staff and volunteers.

Recognition matters — and we’re proud to celebrate every achievement.

Take a look at the numbers below.

 

 
10.45am

What awards are up for grabs?

The Barts Health Heroes Awards celebrate the incredible contributions of our staff and teams. In 2024, the categories were refreshed to better align with the work happening across the Trust. Here’s a quick look at them:

For individuals:

• Living Our Values: Someone who shows our WeCare values in everything they do.
• Patients’ Choice: Nominated by a patient, carer, or member of the public for making their care or experience extra special.
• People’s Choice: Nominated by colleagues for going above and beyond to help others.
• Rising Star: Someone who’s new to their role but is already making a big difference.
• WeLead: A leader who inspires and motivates others with compassion.

For teams:

• Living Our Values: A team that lives and breathes our WeCare values.
• Innovation and Impact: A team that’s brought a fresh idea or way of working to make things better.
• Patients’ Choice: A team that’s given excellent care or made a real difference to patients.
• WeBelong: A team that works hard to promote fairness and equality.
• WeImprove: A team that’s made big improvements to their service.

Who will take home the prizes? Stay with us to find out as the night unfolds!

 

10.30am, Tuesday 11 February

Welcome to our live blog

Good morning and a very warm welcome to our live blog as we count down to the 2025 Barts Health Heroes Awards!

Excitement is building for what is undoubtedly the biggest event in the Barts Health calendar.

On Wednesday night, around 300 people will gather at The Brewery in central London to celebrate the incredible achievements of our superstar staff and volunteers who have gone the extra mile to make a difference.

There are ten prestigious awards up for grabs, plus three more presented by Barts Charity.

We’ll be building up to the event, showcasing our amazing nominees, and revealing the winners — live as it happens! Stay tuned and share your messages of support in the comments below or get in touch via email.