2016
WINNERS AND
COMMENDATIONS
Royal College of Surgeons, London
Thursday 1st December 2016
Ophthalmology Honours is an educational initiative fully funded by Bayer.
The judging process is carried out by a panel of independent judges and
is wholly independent of Bayer.
UKEYL06160038af
Date of preparation: December 2016
Ophthalmology Honours 2016
Contents
Welcome3
Steering committee
4
The ceremony host 5
Additional judges
6
Best ophthalmology team
8
Judges’ special awards
10
Best patient support or education initiative
12
Best ophthalmology care innovation 14
Outstanding ophthalmology nurse or allied health professional 15
Ophthalmology unsung hero
2
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Ophthalmology Honours 2016
Welcome
Welcome to Bayer’s awards programme, the Ophthalmology Honours. These
awards recognise and celebrate, on an annual basis, the outstanding work being
carried out by multi-disciplinary teams in ophthalmology throughout the UK. The
awards identify exceptional initiatives that demonstrate clinical excellence and
innovation in ophthalmology, and recognise exceptional individuals who improve
the quality of care provided to patients and the patient experience.
The Ophthalmology Honours reflects
the mission of Bayer, a leader in
medical retina, to support science
for better lives by improving patient
outcomes and showcasing the very
best ophthalmology care in the UK.
Supported by the Royal National
Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and
Visionary, this awards programme
demonstrates the commitment of
Bayer to support the implementation
of good practice in the NHS;
resulting in tangible benefits for
patients and advancements in
ophthalmology care in terms of multidisciplinary and innovative working.
The Ophthalmology Honours is
part of the Bayer Ophthalmology
Masterclass programme, which
aims to deliver high-quality and
valued educational support initiatives
for the ophthalmology community.
Bayer is committed to delivering
the Ophthalmology Honours
programme in order to continue
to recognise the outstanding
work being carried out by
multi-disciplinary teams in
ophthalmology throughout the
UK. Don’t miss out on your
chance to be part of next year’s
awards programme. The 2017
awards programme will be open
for entry on Monday 24th April
2017 and the entry deadline will
be Friday 18th August 2017.
For more details please visit www.ophthalmologyhonours.bayer.co.uk/
These awards are organised
and funded by Bayer
and supported by the RNIB and Visionary
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Ophthalmology Honours 2016
Steering committee
The development of the Ophthalmology Honours was guided by a steering committee of experts
including Consultant Ophthalmologists, Specialist Nurses and a representative from the RNIB.
Clare Bailey
Consultant in Ophthalmology, Bristol Eye Hospital
Clare has been a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Bristol Eye Hospital since 2001, with
a special interest in medical retinal disorders. She undertook her medical degrees at
Cambridge and Oxford Universities and worked in general medicine prior to commencing
ophthalmology. Her MD thesis concerned treatment for diabetic retinopathy. Prior to
taking up her consultant post she undertook a medical retina fellowship at Moorfields Eye
Hospital. She is Clinical Director of the Retinal Treatment and Research Unit at Bristol Eye
Hospital, and has been a principal investigator on numerous trials concerning age-related
macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vascular disorders, publishing
widely in these areas. She is also joint clinical lead of Bristol Eye Hospital.
Helen Devonport
Consultant in Ophthalmology, Bradford Royal Infirmary
Helen is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, specialising in medical retina and uveitis at
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She graduated from Southampton
University Medical School. Helen completed her ophthalmic training in the Yorkshire
Deanery, followed by a further 10 months of advanced subspecialty training in uveitis and
medical retina before taking up her current post in 2005. She is the lead for the Macular
Service and the Uveitis Service in Bradford and is involved in clinical research in medical
retina and uveitis.
Stevie Johnson
Clinical Lead, RNIB Evidence and Service Impact
Stevie is a member of the Evidence and Service Impact team for the RNIB, working to
improve the quality and impact of service for people affected by sight loss. She and
her team design effective, evidence-based practice, offer professional development
programmes and practical support for regional or country service delivery teams and
UK-wide services. Before joining the RNIB, Stevie worked as an Orthoptist and Low
Vision Therapist in the North of England.
Jenny Nosek
Ophthalmic Advanced Nurse Specialist, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
Jenny commenced her nursing career in 1975 as a pre-reg ophthalmic student at
Wolverhampton Eye Infirmary. She went on to complete her RGN and worked for a
number of years in general surgery returning to ‘her first love’, ophthalmology in 1988.
Jenny completed her master’s degree at Birmingham University in 1995 and has since
continued to work in ophthalmology both commercially and in the NHS, specialising
in the care of patients suffering with macular pathology. Jenny has a keen interest in
developing nursing services and has published several papers relating to evidence-based
nursing practice in ophthalmology.
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Ophthalmology Honours 2016
The ceremony host
The Ophthalmology Honours ceremony was hosted by Paralympian and
former world record holder, Danny Crates.
Danny had a promising rugby career, playing at both regional and county level, before he
suffered an accident and lost his right arm at the age of 21. Danny moved into Paralympic
sport and quickly began to dominate. As a natural sprinter, he soon found that he was
competing with the best in the world in the arm amputee class.
In the 1998 World Championships, Danny made his international debut and reached the
400m final and won a silver medal in the 4 x 400m relay, breaking the European record.
Danny later famously won gold in the men’s 800 metres T46 final at the Athens 2004
Paralympic Games, a year which also saw him set a new world record.
When injury forced Danny to retire from athletics he did so as a Paralympic Champion,
European Paralympic Champion, Paralympic World Cup winner and Paralympic world
record holder with eleven international medals, eight of them gold, to his name.
5
Ophthalmology Honours 2016
Additional judges
Although funded and facilitated by Bayer, the awards were independently judged by experts in
ophthalmology care, including the steering committee and additional representatives to ensure a multidisciplinary panel; with the decision-making process wholly independent of Bayer.
Augusto Azuara-Blanco
Professor of Ophthalmology, Queen’s University Belfast
Augusto’s academic career has focused on improving patient outcomes and
investigating the effectiveness and safety of new technologies particularly in glaucoma,
AMD and diabetic retinopathy. Augusto has published over 140 peer-reviewed papers,
17 book chapters and edited three books. He has raised over £8 million in research
grant funding, mainly from the National Institute for Health Research, as Principal
Investigator or co-applicant. Augusto is a member of the editorial board of five specialist
journals, including the Cochrane Eye and Vision Group and is a member of the executive
committee of the European Glaucoma Society. He was also 2012 Chair of the UK and
Eire Glaucoma Society.
Usha Chakravarthy
Professor of Ophthalmology, Queen’s University Belfast
Usha has a varied portfolio of research interests and is recognised internationally for her
work on age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Usha has in excess
of 300 publications, has been on the editorial board of several national and international
journals and is a member of the oversight committee for JAMA ophthalmology. She was
chairperson of the ophthalmology specialty group for UKCRN and is a member of the
Royal College of Ophthalmologists Academic Group. On an international level, Usha
is on the advisory panel for the AMD alliance, Laskar Foundation, the credentials and
scientific committee of the Macula Society and the awards committee for the Association
for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology. She is also a member of the scientific panel
for German Medical Research Council and the Australian Health Foundation.
Valerie Haylor
Associate Lecturer, Sheffield Hallam University
Valerie qualified as a pharmacist in 1972 after graduating from Brighton School
of Pharmacy and completing training at the Royal London Hospital. As a Clinical
Pharmacist for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals since 1982, she was then appointed
Directorate Pharmacist for Ophthalmology in 1996 and has since qualified as a
prescriber. Valerie is a member, and former Chair, of the Ophthalmic Pharmacy Group
and a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. As a Principal Pharmacist she
worked with Bradford University supporting post graduate education and training of
pharmacists. She currently works at Sheffield Hallam University developing a newly
accredited Prescribing Course for pharmacists.
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Ophthalmology Honours 2016
Alison Oliver
Chief Executive Officer, Visionary
Alison is the CEO of Visionary, the membership organisation for local sight loss charities
across the UK. As part of this role Alison sits on the UK Vision Strategy Leadership
Group and represents local organisations in national sector discussions. Prior to joining
Visionary, Alison was the Interim Director of Resources at Thomas Pocklington Trust where
she led a number of internal sight loss sector related projects. Before joining Thomas
Pocklington Trust, Alison combined her professional management roles with volunteering
and a trustee role at a local disability charity. She is also a trustee of a local sight loss
charity, South East London Vision. Alison, who is a qualified chartered accountant,
worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a director in the Banking and Capital Markets Risk
Management team and subsequently took on the role of Finance Director at a commercial
property investment group, before joining the voluntary sector in 2014.
Roshini Sanders
Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Edinburgh and Consultant in Ophthalmology,
Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline
Roshini is a regional trainer for glaucoma in South-East Scotland, secretary of the Scottish
Glaucoma Club, chief organiser of the Scottish Glaucoma Symposium and co-founder of
the glaucoma surgery wet lab at the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. She is currently
National Clinical Lead for the Scottish Eyecare Integration Project, Chair of SIGN guidelines
for glaucoma and Ophthalmology Advisor to NHS Scotland. She is also the Scottish
Ophthalmology Speciality Lead for research (CMO office) and co-director of the University
of Edinburgh MSc in Clinical Ophthalmology. Roshini has a keen interest in the prevention
of unnecessary visual impairment, service redesign and electronic communication and has
several research papers in these fields.
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Ophthalmology Honours 2016
Best ophthalmology team
Teamwork is critical in the delivery of high-quality
ophthalmology care. A healthcare system that supports
effective teamwork can improve the quality of patient care,
enhance patient safety and reduce workload and capacity
issues that cause unnecessary stress among healthcare
professionals and patients. In judging this award the panel
were looking for an ophthalmology team delivering exceptional
results by working together to achieve goals.
WINNER
Epsom and St. Helier
University Hospitals NHS Trust
Judges’ comment:
“This entry had clear
objectives, a well laid out
plan and clear results
achieved through teamwork
– a lot has been achieved
in a year. There was an
excellent team effort
at all levels and across
departments. The results
were exceptional and
brought about widereaching changes.”
Making a Difference for Glaucoma Patients:
A ‘Can Do’ Approach
The glaucoma multi-disciplinary team at this
centre was struggling to meet the needs
of patients. Therefore in September 2014
drivers for change were identified. The
aim was to offer Clinical Commissioning
Groups a cost effective, streamlined
service with improved governance and
reduced isolated decision-making and to
offer patients a more positive experience.
8
The results achieved within one year were
remarkable. The “Can Do” attitude adopted
completely galvanised the team and their
approach across all aspects of patient care
completely redefined the patient journey. The
judges congratulated the team for a major
improvement and such a refreshing and
successful effort, with several judges inspired
to implement changes at their own centres.
Ophthalmology Honours 2016
Judges’ comment:
“This is clearly a very
dedicated team who
provided a good solution
to ROP screening and
reduced adverse outcomes
as a result. The entry also
demonstrated a good use of
telemedicine. It had clearly
defined goals and well
thought out actions. This
team is small but effective
with a flexible approach
and has achieved a lot,
including the delivery of an
excellent standard of care.”
HIGHLY
COMMENDED
Manchester
Royal Eye
Hospital
Central Manchester Foundation Trust
Retinopathy of Prematurity Team
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a
potentially blinding disease that affects infants
born at less than 32 weeks gestation or
weighing less than 1500g at birth. Screening
and prompt treatment has a huge effect
on the quality-adjusted life years of those
affected. Manchester Royal Eye Hospital has
a unique team offering a first-rate service to
premature infants and their families. The team
is run day-to-day by four full time neonatal
nurses who screen approximately 150 infants
a year, with an additional 50 referred from
COMMENDED
other units for second opinions. A recent audit
of 50 consecutive screens undertaken at the
unit demonstrated that the nurse screeners
produce high quality gradable images in
100% of cases. The active surveillance of
at risk babies in the region has resulted in
the identification of babies who would have
missed screening. Due to this dedication,
the sight of three infants has been saved in
the last three years. The judges’ felt that
the initiative should be replicated in other
neonatal units across the UK.
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust
Stickler Syndrome Service
The National Stickler Syndrome Diagnostic
Service was a very strong entry with
successful patient pathways linked to
research and very strong patient support.
The judges described the team as ‘very
specialist’ and ‘world class’. It is an
excellent example of multi-disciplinary
working that can be applied to other areas.
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Ophthalmology Honours 2016
Judges’ special awards
WINNER
Bradford Teaching Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust
Bradford Ophthalmology Research Network:
Enhancing patient care through research
Macular disorders are the leading cause
of blindness and a decade ago treatment
options were limited. There continues to be
a growing need for research to find better
treatment options, however opportunities
for patients to participate in clinical
research has historically been virtually nonexistent. The aim of this research network
was to develop a centre of excellence for
macular diseases by encouraging a culture
of research and evidence-based practice.
The ophthalmology research team has
evolved from one consultant and one
nurse to a collaborative ophthalmology
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research network working with researchers
in clinics, as well as universities. The
research staff include two research
nurses, one research associate, two
research optometrists and four ophthalmic
photographers. All retina consultants
are engaged in research. The team has
a growing portfolio of studies offering all
patients an opportunity to participate in
one clinical trial. The team has participated
in 20 studies in the last six years and
despite being a new centre the research
team has outperformed its expectations.
Judges’ comment:
“This entry didn’t quite
fit any of the award
categories but we wanted
to recognise this fantastic
initiative as it was close
to many of our hearts.
Bradford is a first class
macula research centre
and the team’s efforts
are excellent. The entry
demonstrated a strong
team, with commitment to
research and translation
from trial experience to
improved clinical services.
The team achieved
impressive developments,
significantly expanding
research activity and
bringing greater treatment
options to patients.”
Ophthalmology Honours 2016
WINNER
Cambridge University Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust
Judges’ comment:
“This team is very specialist
and world class. It is an
excellent example of multidisciplinary working that
can be applied to other
areas. The National Stickler
Syndrome Diagnostic
Service demonstrates
successful patient pathways
linked to research and very
strong patient support.”
Stickler Syndrome Service
Retinal detachment is a common and
potentially blinding condition. There
is considerable evidence that genetic
factors play a causative role but the exact
mechanisms are poorly understood.
Over the last 25 years, this Cambridge
Ophthalmology team has developed
and led International research in Stickler
Syndrome, an inherited connective tissue
disorder that causes giant retinal tears
leading to retinal detachment, often in
both eyes. It is the commonest cause
of childhood retinal detachment. Due to
the complexity of diagnosis and variety
in clinical features, underdiagnosis /
misdiagnosis was common. The Trust
identified a clear and essential need
to improve the clinical and molecular
diagnostic approach and to establish a
multi-disciplinary team (MDT). As a result
of the research and MDT service, in 2011
the Department of Health commissioned
the team to provide the now National
Stickler Syndrome Diagnostic Service for all
patients in England with Stickler Syndrome.
Health boards access the service via
their own commissioning arrangements
ensuring that all UK NHS patients have free
access to a true MDT service, unparalleled
anywhere else in the world.
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Ophthalmology Honours 2016
Best patient support or
education initiative
This award is designed to recognise the development of innovative support
or education initiatives that have made a significant and measurable
difference to improve outcomes and quality of life for patients.
WINNER
Alder Hey
Children’s
Hospital
NHS Foundation
Trust
The Paediatric Intraocular Clinic
It is a major life event for parents when
they are told that their perfect baby or
young child has a cataract, who needs
surgery and what that might involve. At
the Paediatric Intraocular Clinic, a pathway
was introduced to ease the anxieties of the
parents and to give, as much as possible, a
HIGHLY
COMMENDED
smooth and consistent experience; seeing,
where possible, the same team members
at the same clinic. The team has achieved
a consistency in practice and in the clinical
team, which has greatly assisted with
reducing the anxieties of parents.
East Kent Hospitals University NHS
Foundation Trust
Kent Association for the Blind ECLO Service
Four years ago this clinic introduced an
Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) service
to provide patients with instant access
to emotional support, further information
about eye conditions and external services
for support. This service has had a huge
impact, providing emotional support for
all patients as and when they need it,
seeing on average 60 patients per month.
It has been described by one patient as,
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“In a word – brilliant. You gave me the
confidence to navigate a dark place that
I knew nothing about and helped me find
my way. Having an ECLO means that the
people who are nervously sat waiting, who
are too shy to speak up and ask for help,
have someone there on the front line who
will go to them to check they are okay, not
left sitting in the dark.”
Judges’ comment:
“This is an excellent
example of improved
communication in the
paediatric setting. A well
thought out approach and
a novel idea. The team
recognised the lack of
education and support
for patients and as a
result they successfully
developed the service to
meet these needs.”
Judges’ comment:
“This initiative clearly
showcased how building
relationships with patients
and support organisations
can result in positive changes
to clinical practice and
improved services. The
entry demonstrated a robust
change that over time directly
improved patient experience.
It is an initiative that other
centres could learn from.”
Ophthalmology Honours 2016
COMMENDED
Aintree University Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust with Blind Veterans UK
Making it easier to access charitable services for
patients with sight loss
In light of the increasing demand on social services caused by an ageing population and
the reduction in government funding, the support available to patients suffering sight loss
has gradually diminished. However, support for eligible individuals is available through
charities and one in particular, Blind Veterans UK, supports former service personnel. The
application process can be lengthy, especially as information around eye conditions needs
to be sought from eye clinics. To ensure support is accessed as quickly as possible, this
clinic introduced a gold standard approach to ensure that all eligible patients receive timely
access to services and has demonstrated a marked impact on patients.
COMMENDED
University Hospitals Birmingham
A support and education day for patients with
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is an uncommon disorder characterised by
increased intracranial pressure of unknown cause, predominantly seen in obese women
of childbearing age. It is a debilitating condition causing headaches, nausea, vomiting,
transient loss of vision and tinnitus. Education surrounding weight loss and maintenance
has emerged as a key factor in the management of IIH. This service established a thorough
approach to supporting the education and needs of patients with IIH. An excellent oneday programme was developed, with sessions including a talk by a Slimming World
representative, a motivational talk by a patient who had lost weight and as a result had
improved symptoms, an interactive fitness session run by British Military Fitness, cooking
demonstrations on the preparation of healthy food, an interactive session of yoga and
Pilates and a Zumba dancing workshop.
13
Ophthalmology Honours 2016
Best ophthalmology
care innovation
This award is designed to recognise innovations in care via a
differential approach that have been implemented in eye units
to: save money and minimise the effect of reduced budgets;
improve patient experience; improve patients’ quality of life;
improve patient outcomes and improve service delivery, while
maintaining or enhancing the quality of patient care provided.
The judges assessed entries based on the originality of the
initiative, potential for wider application, size of the benefit
achieved, the number experiencing this benefit, and the cost
of/cost-savings generated by the initiative.
WINNER
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
Real-time Patient Journey Assessment Platform
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital developed
a bespoke, electronic, patient tracking
platform, MAP, to address issues around
consistency in patient flow, to minimise
the time patients spend in waiting areas
and to optimise patient experience of care.
The platform provides quantified data on
patient flow and offers an unparalleled level
of real-time visualisation of clinical activity.
It provides the clinic co-ordinator with a
real-time overview of all patients undergoing
any assessment or treatment, as well as
patients waiting to go through any step of
the pathway. It enables the co-ordinator
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to observe the real-time flow of patients
from step-to-step, meaning bottlenecks
developing at any one step are promptly
highlighted. MAP also offers a unique
opportunity to optimise patient experience
and manage patient expectations in
injection clinics. By linking the system to the
main screen in the outpatient waiting area
it is possible to offer information to service
users on average waiting times between
various steps of the pathway. This relieves
confusion around complex pathways and
infuses a sense of involvement to patients
ensuring a positive experience of care.
Judges’ comment:
“This was a very innovative,
interesting and clever way
of mapping patient flow.
It is a great initiative which
could enable centres
to be more in control
and responsible for the
timely running of clinics
and to help improve
service provision. This
has excellent potential
for future application
across the UK and could
change ways of working
throughout the NHS.”
Ophthalmology Honours 2016
Outstanding ophthalmology
nurse or allied health professional
Ophthalmology clinics rely on nursing staff and allied health
professionals who continue to improve the treatment and care
they provide for their patients. Ensuring that patient outcomes,
safety and experience are paramount while embracing the evergrowing need to adapt, develop and evolve their practice to
meet the diverse expectations of their patients, the public and
policy makers. This award recognises the critical role nurses
and allied health professionals play within ophthalmic care
and is awarded to a nurse or allied health professional who
demonstrates excellence in all aspects of their role while making
an outstanding contribution to patient experience.
WINNER
Anne-Marie Lacey
Nurse Practitioner, Royal
Bournemouth Hospital
Judges’ comment:
“It is evident that
Anne-Marie is a highly
skilled individual who
involves herself with a range
of activities well outside
her everyday role. We were
impressed that she was
compared to a junior doctor
and have to commend
her for her organisational
skills. She has taken on the
responsibility to improve the
service whilst maintaining a
high patient empathy and
level of support. We can’t
praise her highly enough!”
Anne-Marie is a Nurse Practitioner
providing support to the macular service
and the Emergency Eye Unit. She is an
integral member of the team. Without
her involvement in clinics the service
would be under severe strain to provide
the necessary capacity. She is able to
motivate and support not only patients
but other team members. Anne-Marie has
supported the training of a second macula
nurse and is always ready to support the
team by seeing extra patients, including
during weekend clinics. Anne-Marie’s
considerate technique in giving injections
has helped to reassure patients who are
particularly nervous. She has worked
tirelessly to improve herself professionally
and provides compassionate holistic care
to macula patients through the entirety of
the patient journey.
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Ophthalmology Honours 2016
continued...
HIGHLY
COMMENDED
Clare Hall
Staff Nurse VR Theatre,
Colchester Hospital University Foundation Trust
Clare has worked in the vitreo-retinal
(VR) theatre since 2009. The service has
been improved over the years by Clare’s
ideas and her tireless research into other
hospitals. She has built a strong team
to support her in the VR theatre but it
is always Clare that quietly takes on the
responsibility and diligence to ensure that
everything is organised to perfection.
HIGHLY
COMMENDED
Sue Walker
Specialist Ophthalmic Science Practitioner,
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Sue has a pivotal, central role within
the Medical Retina and AMD team. She
multi-tasks and maintains an overview of
the clinic, often switching from one role to
another to ensure there are no bottlenecks,
which means that patients have a smooth
journey through the service. She has made
a big impact on the way the service is
delivered, particularly in the development
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Judges’ comment:
“Clare seems to have
forged a unique and
important role. She has
good team building skills,
a high level of commitment
to the quality of the service
and goes that extra mile.
Clare has an excellent
ability to take initiative and
provide crucial support to
the rest of the team. Her
continuous commitment
and loyalty to the team
is extraordinary and is
not something that you
come across every day.”
of the non-medical role within the multidisciplinary ophthalmic team, which allows
clinicians more time with complicated
cases. Patients have commented on how
well Sue looks after them – no matter how
stressed clinic might be, each individual
patient is always greeted with a smile and
given the time they need.
Judges’ comment:
“The impact that Sue
has on the service is
unquestionable. Her ability
to multi-task and adopt
extended roles out of her
remit is outstanding and she
clearly has a high impact
on patient experience.
The entry showcases
an impressive career
progression. Sue is a strong
team player and focuses
on improving services by
carving out a unique and
incredibly useful role. She is
clearly a fantastic leader who
deserves to be recognised.”
Ophthalmology Honours 2016
COMMENDED
James Bayley
Clinical Specialist
Nurse Practitioner,
Oxford Eye Hospital
James was nominated for this award by one of his patients
who described him as “a devoted, compassionate,
knowledgeable and totally professional nurse who may not
expect to receive, but is wholly deserving of this award.”
James’ nomination showcased the true care and attention
that James takes with his work every day. The stand-out
feedback provided clearly demonstrates the impact James
has on patient experience on a daily basis.
COMMENDED
Nicola Hopkins
Retinal Nurse Specialist,
Colchester Hospital University
Foundation Trust
As a retinal nurse specialist, Nicola works very closely
alongside the consultant; with her own patient list ranging
from new patients with medical/surgical conditions, post-op
VR surgery, diabetes-related conditions, to any medical VR
problem. She is respected by senior and junior colleagues,
who often ask for advice regarding patients if the consultant
is not in clinic. Nicola is a critical contributor to patient care
and patient welfare. She has a high level of engagement
with patients and it is evident that Nicola makes a real
difference to all.
COMMENDED
Joshna Patel
Diabetic Specialist Nurse,
Hillingdon Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust
Joshna is an excellent diabetic nurse performing to a very
high standard. She has admirable skills, excellent intuition
and first-rate knowledge of diabetes and ophthalmology.
Joshna’s ability to multi-task means that she has a high
impact on the service and patient care and experience.
She goes the extra mile to educate and inform patients.
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Ophthalmology Honours 2016
Ophthalmology
unsung hero
The NHS employs a multitude of non-clinical staff working
to ensure the smooth-running of organisations and improve
patient experience. This award recognises those who work
tirelessly to ensure the smooth running of their organisation,
and demonstrate excellence in all aspects of their role, while
making an outstanding contribution to patient experience.
WINNER
Judges’ comment:
“Cara is exceptional and
has consistently performed
above and beyond for a
large span of her career.
The progress and growth
that she has shown in
her role is extraordinary
and she clearly makes an
impact on all, with patient
experience at the heart of
everything she does. Cara
is absolutely key to the
success of the service, she
truly is the definition of an
unsung hero.”
Cara Mitchell
Macular Service Coordinator,
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Cara was nominated for this award for
her patient-centred “nothing is too much
trouble” approach, her ability to motivate,
drive and innovate, but most importantly
because her colleagues felt she doesn’t
realise how good she is or how much staff,
patients and carers benefit from what she
contributes to the service. Cara started at
band 2 and showed initiative and drive to
improve the service for patients, carers and
the team. Her support, commitment and
hard work contributed to the exponential
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growth of the team’s research portfolio.
Due to staffing shortages within the macular
admin team, her skills were required to
support the running of the clinical service.
It quickly became apparent that she had so
much to offer the service and for years she
worked above her banding, covering the
co-ordinator role without remuneration.
She has recently been promoted, and now
manages four assistants. Cara has always
provided an exemplary service.
Ophthalmology Honours 2016
Judges’ comment:
“Christopher is a strong
team player and it is
clear that his skill set is of
substantial importance
to the running of the
department. The support
that Christopher provides to
the team is unprecedented.
Having a ‘go to’ person
for all IT issues within a
department is crucial for
the efficient running of the
clinics and service and
this team are lucky to have
just that in Christopher.”
HIGHLY
COMMENDED
Christopher Ellis
Ophthalmic Imaging Technician,
Colchester Hospital University Foundation Trust
Christopher has a great ability to recognise
a problem, find a solution to that problem
and then set about putting that solution into
action. He is a great team player and will
perform any task to assist in the smooth
running of retinal clinics, which can range
from running around after missing notes
and referral letters to making patients
cups of tea when they have been in the
department for a few hours. Christopher
has taken it upon himself to maintain all the
slit lamps within the retinal suite making
COMMENDED
sure that the tonometers are correctly
calibrated on a weekly basis and will come
in early or leave late to make sure this is
done. He has an extensive knowledge of
computers and is always happy to help
when people have problems with their
systems. The department relies heavily on
IT for the smooth running of its clinics and
Christopher’s ability to solve most of the
issues that arise means clinics aren’t delayed
waiting for an offsite IT technician to arrive.
June Crosby
Senior Eye Clinic Liaison Officer,
Eye Hospital, Hull Royal Infirmary
June is “an exceptional ECLO” that has taken it upon herself
to develop the Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) pathway
for the service. Her level of commitment to the role shines
through and her compassionate and caring manner makes
a real difference to the patients she serves and the care they
receive. She is a comforting and cheerful presence in the
clinic and her support is integral to the eye care delivered to
patients. June is an asset to the department.
19
Bayer may be contacted via Bayer Medical Information at:
Bayer plc, Bayer House, Strawberry Hill, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 1JA.
Tel: 01635 563116. Email: [email protected].
© Bayer plc November 2016.
® Registered trademark of Bayer AG, Germany.
UKEYL06160038af
Date of preparation: December 2016