Last Friday, we came together to celebrate the dedication of our colleagues and volunteers, with hundreds of nominations highlighting your outstanding contributions. The event recognised the individuals and teams who make a real difference to patients, colleagues and visitors every day.
This edition of Proud News is dedicated to all our winners and nominees. Congratulations to all nominees and finalists – you truly embody our hospital’s spirit of care and commitment.
Our sincere thanks to the sponsors for making the evening possible, and to Stephanie Hirst for once again being a fantastic host. It really was a night to remember.
In the spirit of celebration, we will continue this positivity on 10 June for the Trust’s first ever Celebration Day event. This shared event is about celebrating what unites us –working together to provide outstanding care and support for our patients and each other. Taking place at Colliers Restaurant between 11am and 2.30pm, the event will feature indoor and outdoor market‐style stalls, with different professions showcasing their work through activities and engagement. Find out more on the Hub.
This week, we also celebrated our vital HR colleagues on HR Professionals Day on Wednesday. Their dedication helps us deliver the best possible care for our patients by supporting the people who provide it.
Thank you to all of our HR colleagues for your hard work, professionalism and commitment – we couldn’t do it without you.
Emma Parkes
Director of Communications
ThankyouLorraineand happyretirement
Lorraine leaves the Trust at the end of May and during her time here has been a valued colleague and member of the Trust Board. She leaves us in a good position, with the Trust having the most improved four-hour performance in the country (Feb 2025–Feb 2026) and achieving the national four-hour target of 78% for March (reaching over 80%).
The Trust was also significantly ahead of the target for April 2026, as well as ahead of its referral to treatment target in both March and April.
Lorraine leaves the Trust after a long and successful career in the NHS. We all wish Lorraine a long and happy retirement.
To help ensure future celebrations continue to be a success, we’d like your feedback. If you came along to the awards, please take a moment to fill out our Heart Awards survey.
BarnsleyFacilitiesServicesAward
This award recognises standout individuals or teams working for Barnsley Facilities Services who have a proven record of going the extra mile, living the Trust values, and providing a first-class service to BFS customers.
Shortlistedinthiscategory
Alan Heathcote and Matt Hall
Dawn Pickering
Olivia Jessop
WINNERS 2026
AlanHeathcoteandMattHall
Alan Heathcote and Matt Hall have made an outstanding contribution to the delivery of Barnsley’s Health on the High Street project at the Alhambra Shopping Centre. This ambitious programme is changing how local people access care by bringing NHS services into the heart of the community and reducing reliance on hospital‐based settings.
CharityAward
This award recognises staff members who have supported Barnsley Hospital Charity and its appeals or events, either through fundraising, volunteering or other general support.
Shortlistedinthiscategory
Barnsley Hospital Volunteers
Luke Callaghan
Linda Proctor
LukeCallaghan WINNER 2026
Over the past year, Luke has taken on a remarkable range of fundraising challenges, including multiple skydives, a fire walk, shark dive, wing walk and the Barnsley 10k, continually pushing himself far beyond his comfort zone to raise both funds and awareness for the charity.
Luke’s efforts have raised over £4,500 and captured attention across the hospital and wider community.
IndividualOutstanding Achievement(Clinical)Award
This award recognises a member of clinical staff who, through excellent leadership skills, has inspired a change in order to achieve higher standards or make significant improvements for patients. This could be demonstrating excellence and passion in a specific field, transforming service delivery or acting as a role model or mentor.
Shortlistedinthiscategory
Kathryn Marvin
Rhys Vertigans
Sue Ganley
WINNER 2026
RhysVertigans
Rhys consistently sets high standards for patient‐centred care and leads by example, motivating others to develop both professionally and personally. He supports colleagues through challenge and change with transparency, reflection and encouragement, creating a healthy, supportive working environment where staff feel valued and empowered. His impact on both service development and team culture makes him a truly deserving candidate for recognition.
This award recognises a member of non-clinical staff who, through excellent leadership skills, has inspired a change in order to achieve higher standards or make significant improvements for patients.
Shortlistedinthiscategory
Megan Ray
Natalie Oldroyd
Sarah Lavender
WINNER 2026
SarahLavender
Sarah is an invaluable member of the AMU team, recognised for her calm, capable approach and unwavering support for both patients and colleagues. She has taken on significant additional responsibility, managing the AMU service during a period of change while continuing to oversee rotas, provide PA support to consultants and supervise a 24‐hour administrative service across AMU and Medical SDEC.
InnovationandQualityImprovement Award
The award celebrates innovation and creative ideas that have a clear benefit for patients, family members, members of staff or the hospital as a whole. It could be an idea, service or product new to the hospital, or something that has been applied in a way that is new to healthcare.
Shortlistedinthiscategory
Capsule Endoscopy
Claire Lawson and Ward 33
Collaboration between members of ED, Medical SDEC and Pharmacy
WINNERS 2026
CapsuleEndoscopy
The Capsule Endoscopy team has developed an innovative, nurse‐led diagnostic service that continues to grow, providing non‐invasive investigations for patients across Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster. Delivered at the Community Diagnostic Centre, the service supports earlier diagnosis, reduces pressure on traditional endoscopy waiting lists and allows capacity to be prioritised for cancer and therapeutic pathways.
This award is for teams or individuals who have worked with external partners, in the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System, to achieve a shared goal for the benefit of our patients, staff, or beyond.
Shortlistedinthiscategory
Dr Rajeev Gupta
Maternity/Medical Engineering/Walters
Maternity/MedicalEngineering/Walters Medical WINNERS 2026
The Maternity and Medical Engineering teams, alongside external partner Walters Medical, are recognised for their exceptional collaboration in the safe procurement and implementation of a new fleet of neonatal resuscitaires. Working together, they carried out a detailed evaluation of existing equipment, identifying risks and ensuring the new devices met the highest standards for safety, reliability and clinical effectiveness.
PatientCareAward
This award recognises an individual or team who has gone above and beyond to put patient care first – whether through system improvements, new procedures, or sharing knowledge to raise care standards.
Shortlistedinthiscategory
Acute Response, and Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
Frailty SDEC
Ayub
Zara
WINNER 2026
ZaraAyub
Zara makes an exceptional contribution through her dual role as a Care Navigator and Cancer Support Worker, consistently giving 100% to supporting patients at some of the most difficult points in their lives. She ensures patients are guided smoothly through their appointment pathways while also offering personalised support, helping them access appropriate services such as holistic therapies, Macmillan support and practical assistance.
2026
PatientChoice Award
Patients (or their representatives) may nominate any individual or team of their choice who they feel has made an exceptional effort to give them the best possible care or experience during their time under the hospital’s care.
Shortlistedinthiscategory
Dr John Proctor
Dr Simon Scammal
Ward 32 Respiratory Care Unit
WINNERS 2026
Ward32RespiratoryCareUnit
The RCU team, and Helen in particular, provided exceptional care and compassion to a patient and his family during an incredibly difficult time. From the moment of admission, they consistently went above and beyond, offering clear communication, kindness and unwavering support to both the patient and his loved ones.
The team created a welcoming and supportive environment, honouring the patient’s final wishes and ensuring the family felt cared for throughout. Their empathy, humanity and commitment made an immeasurable difference, and they are thoroughly deserving of recognition.
TeamOutstandingAchievement (Clinical)Award
This award is for the clinical team that has demonstrated their ability to deliver clear benefits to the Trust’s service provision and performance through working together effectively and efficiently.
Shortlistedinthiscategory Emergency Department
WINNERS 2026
Phlebotomy
The Phlebotomy Outpatients Team is recognised for its exceptional dedication, resilience and unwavering commitment to patient care. Working across both the main hospital site and the Community Diagnostic Centre, the team consistently delivers a reliable, high‐quality service, maintaining full clinic capacity even during periods of significant staffing pressure.
TeamOutstandingAchievement (Non-clinical)Award
This award is for the nonclinical team that’s demonstrated their ability to deliver clear benefits to the Trust’s service provision, and performance through working together effectively and efficiently.
Shortlistedinthiscategory
CBU2 Leadership Team
Green ED Working Group
Medical Education Team
WINNERS 2026
CBU2LeadershipTeam
The CBU2 Leadership Team is recognised for exceptional resilience, compassion and leadership during an extremely challenging year. Despite significant staffing pressures, they have continued to deliver safe, high‐quality patient care while maintaining operational grip, driving waiting list improvements and upholding quality standards across services.
Alongside day‐to‐day delivery, the team has progressed major service developments, including theatre expansion, improved staff environments, service relocations and strategic investment in modernising surgical services. Throughout sustained pressure, they have supported one another and the wider multidisciplinary team with steady, visible and values‐driven leadership.
VolunteeroftheYearAward
This award recognises a member of non-clinical staff who, through excellent leadership skills, has inspired a change in order to achieve higher standards or make significant improvements for patients.
Shortlistedinthiscategory
Cancer Services Volunteers
Kath Crowe
Kitty Kirk
WINNER 2026
KittyKirk
Since joining Barnsley Hospital as a volunteer in 2025, Kitty Kirk has made an exceptional impression through her maturity, compassion and professionalism well beyond her years. As a Meet and Greet volunteer, she has become a welcoming and reassuring first point of contact, helping patients and visitors feel supported, calm and valued from the moment they arrive.
Kitty consistently goes above and beyond, willingly supporting others, adapting quickly to new situations and balancing her volunteering alongside college studies with remarkable dedication.
WINNER 2026
Governors’Award LukeCallaghan
The winner of this award was specially chosen from all of our wonderful finalists by The Council of Governors to recognise an individual or team who have, in their eyes, made a truly exceptional contribution to the hospital.
WINNERS 2026
ChiefExecutiveAward CBU1
The winner of this award was personally selected by Barnsley Hospital Chief Executive Dr Richard Jenkins for going the extra mile and making a difference to patients, colleagues, or hospital services.
Chair’sAward KathrynMarvin WINNER 2026
This winner of this award, a team or individual, is personally selected by Mike for the impact their work has had on patients, colleagues, or the community.
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