LGT Star Awards and Winter Ball 2023
In a real celebration of outstanding patient care, dedication and teamwork, 500 colleagues and partners gathered for Team LGT's Star Awards and Winter Ball on Friday 10 November at the Woolwich Works in the Royal Arsenal area of Woolwich.
Eddie Nestor and Robbie Gee, well-known actors and radio personalities, served as the special hosts for the LGT Star Awards. Their chemistry and brilliant hosting manner kept the proceedings under control. Our NHS Choir, who recently performed at King Charles' 75th birthday reception at Buckingham Palace, also performed.
On the evening, we also screened our emotional Magic Moments film, which featured Team LGT's 2023 highlights and included two of our patients, Leo Elliott and Trudy Turner who had a special message for our colleagues for taking care of them with such love and kindness. You can watch the LGT Magic Moments film here: LGT Magic Moments .
Mike Bell, Chair at LGT said: “2023 is a very special year for the NHS – and for Team LGT. Not only have we celebrated NHS and Windrush 75 this year, but we have also marked ten years together as a Trust.
“Congratulations to all our finalists and award winners. At the awards we have celebrated the volunteers, fundraisers, and partners who work side-by-side with us to support our LGT colleagues every day. We would also like to thank our wonderful partners and sponsors for their generous support. It is thanks to them that we have been able to make this year’s awards the biggest yet! Thank you to our fabulous LGT Trust Charity for helping facilitate these donations and working hard all year round fundraising on behalf of the Trust.
“We have delivered so much in 2023, despite so many challenges, and some highlights of the year, and the successes of our LGT Star Awards winners who prove that together we can be exceptional.”
Leo Elliott, a 9-year-old patient on Tiger Ward at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) was diagnosed with kidney cancer, and recently rang the bell to celebrate the end of his cancer treatment. Daisy Elliott, Leo's mother said: "We just want to say a huge thank you to the Tiger Ward team for all of your support and care during Leo's treatment. Leo had a huge battle with cancer and we couldn't have done it without you.”
Patient Leo added: "Thank you, Tiger Ward; you've been a great help to me, and I never felt scared when I went there; the CNS’s were just amazing."
Trudy Turner was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had treatment at University Hospital Lewisham (UHL). Trudy explained: "I just want to thank everyone at UHL for what they did for me; everyone was so kind and I just want to say thank you."
We had a record number of nominations this year – over 800 submissions from all around the Trust and our local communities.
Below, you can find details of our award winners:
- All Star Team Award
Bladder, Bowel and Pelvic Health Team
The night kicked off with an award for this innovative team who do so much to reduce stigma and provide support for those with bladder, bowel or related conditions.
- Guiding Star Award
Lucie Kabatesi, Matron, QEH
For all her hard work on various wards at QEH, including helping set up a brand new one in Ward 25, we saluted Lucie as winner in this leadership category.
- Star Partner Award
Herna Longmore, ISS Housekeeping, ISS UHL
The beloved Herna took home the win in this category in front of her husband, daughter and friends – as well as those at UHL in particular who hold her work, gardening ability and delightful personality in the highest of esteem.
- Rising Star Award
Juliette Prior, Stroke Occupational Thearapy Team Lead, UHL
The crowd showed their love for both of these 'newbies' (the award is for someone in a role for less than 12 months) but it was Juliette who took home the gong.
- Superstar Award
Julie Baker, Head of Nursing for Cancer and Haematology, Cross site
Mehool Patel, Deputy Medical Director, Workforce and Engagement / Consultant
The room erupted when this joint-winner decision was announced! The gratitude we have for both of these long-standing colleagues who have done so much for us could truly be felt in the room.
- Star Player Award
Jessica Thomas, Paediatric Consultant, Safari Ward, QEH
Dr Thomas' amazing rapport with her child patients, and her dedication to improving our quality of care, saw her pick up the Star Player moniker - little did she know this wouldn't be her only win of the evening...
- Stardust Award
Louise Pollard, Pamela Lutalo, Leah Irungu and Earl Sayson, Rheumatology team
For the sheer volume of appreciative patients nominating this dynamic four for this publicly nominated award, this one went out to our UHL rheumatology stars!
- Star Volunteer Award
Julie Backman, Volunteer
Both Judi and Julie do a huge amount for us, all in their spare time, but Julie's Covid-era volunteering at QEH saw her take the volunteer crown.
- LGT Charity Star Award
Genesis Stillwell, Senior Delivery Manager, Gynaecology
Genesis is an all-singing (literally - he sung happy 75th birthday to the NHS armed with his guitar at a recent event) all-dancing Charity Star, who has raised almost £3.5k for our Trust Charity!
- LGT Megastar 2023 Award
Jessica Thomas, Paediatric Consultant, Safari Ward, QEH
A second win for Dr Thomas, and an emotional and well-deserved final win to round off the evening.
- Anne Savage Award
Dr James Dunn, Dr Talha Saad Niaz and Dr Marc Woodman
This trio of trainees certainly made a big impact at a challenging time for QEH, and it is our honour to salute them tonight. “Dr Dunn, Dr Woodman and Dr Niaz demonstrated excellent work during their IMT3 training period at QEH. They were dedicated, hardworking and committed colleagues.
- Dr Gabrielle Kingsley Award
Dr Stefano Palazzo
Dr Palazzo worked exceptionally over the last year to deliver brilliant care to patients, but also to care for our other trainee colleagues both in terms of spending time helping their education to practical action to support the service.
Dr Fredrik Vivian
Dr Vivian demonstrated exemplary leadership in quality improvement to improve tobacco dependency support in inpatients. Working with the tobacco dependency team, the QI team, the pharmacy and the iCare team he has driven forward processes to improve iCare documentation of smoking status, referral to the tobacco dependency team and to enable prompt nicotine replacement therapy prescription.