North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has recognised the exceptional achievements of its staff at its annual We Are NELFT Awards, celebrating the individuals and teams whose work is improving care and supporting communities.

The awards brought together colleagues and guests for an evening of celebration, recognising outstanding contributions across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical services. Supported by the NELFT NHS Charity, with BT and CDW as headline sponsors, additional sponsorship from Artic and VerseOne, and support from Friends of NELFT, Unite, the event showcased the innovation, teamwork and dedication that underpin high-quality care across the Trust.

Nominees, highly commended colleagues and winners were recognised for their achievements, with inspiring stories showcasing the positive impact staff have on the people and communities they serve. From reducing health inequalities to developing innovative approaches to care, the awards reflected the wide-ranging contributions made by NELFT teams.

Sarah Lynn, Senior Project Manager, received the Chair’s Special Recognition Award for her outstanding contribution to launching Hospital Rooms and her continued support for colleagues working in the Sunflowers Café. Speaking after receiving the award, Sarah said she was surprised by the recognition.

“It is such an honour and a shock to win this award. I am so lucky to work with amazing people, and I am so proud of what our team at Sunflowers Café, alongside Morris Ward, have achieved.

“As for Hospital Rooms, I am privileged to be part of such an amazing project. Everyone who visits Sunflowers Court comments on how bright and colourful it is now and the difference it can make to the lives of our service users.”

 

NELFT Chair, Eileen Taylor, said:

"The We Are NELFT Awards are an opportunity to shine a light on the incredible work taking place across our organisation. Every nominee should be proud of their achievements and the positive impact they have on the lives of our patients, residents and communities. Congratulations to all those recognised this evening and thank you to every colleague who continues to make NELFT such a special place to work."

 

NELFT Deputy Chief Executive, Dr Mohit Venkataram, added:

"The excitement in the room reflected the strong sense of community across NELFT. What stood out most was the genuine pride colleagues took in celebrating one another's achievements. The stories shared throughout the evening showcased the very best of our organisation and demonstrated the commitment our staff show every day in supporting the health and wellbeing of local people."

 

The event also recognised the achievements of teams involved in NELFT's Quality Improvement (QI) programme. Through a range of innovative projects and initiatives, staff have delivered meaningful improvements for patients, residents and colleagues, further strengthening the organisation's culture of continuous improvement.

The We Are NELFT Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate the people behind NHS services and to recognise the dedication, expertise and kindness that help make a difference to thousands of lives every year.

Congratulations to all winners, highly commended colleagues and nominees for their outstanding contributions to healthcare and community services.

 

Our winners:

The Clinical Team of the Year award, sponsored by Verse One

The Waltham Forest Memory Service

 

Compassionate Care Award

Gail Nicoll and Chris Mace

 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award

Dr. Sarkis Garjarian

 

Leadership Award

Alison Gray

 

Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by CDW

Alison Gray

 

Non-Clinical Team of the Year

The Sunflowers & Goodmayes Café Team

 

Patient Safety Award

The Digital Medicines Team

 

Patient and Carer Leadership Award

The Sunflowers & Goodmayes Café Team

 

Patient, Service User and Carer Choice

Dr. Amanda Jones

 

Rising Star Award

Abdul Hasan

 

Unsung Hero Award

Kirsty Scottow

 

Working in Partnership Award, sponsored by Artic

Barking and Dagenham Community Learning Disabilities Team

 

Innovation and Improvement Award

The Catheter Crisis Team

 

Chair’s Special Recognition Award, sponsored by BT

Sarah Lynn

 

NELFT NHS Charity Award

George Vogkas and Sarah Khan

 

The QI Project of the Year Award for Essex

Cheryl Smith

 

The QI Project of the year Award for Barking & Dagenham

Arslan Butt

 

The QI Project of the Year Award for Waltham Forest

Ellen Campbell

 

The QI Project of the Year Award for Corporate Services

Anam Majid

 

The QI Project of the Year Award for Redbridge

Holly Rogan, Anya Clarke, Javeeria Hasan, and The Speech and Language Therapy Team

 

The QI Project of the Year Award for ARD

Dr. Ikenna Agbo

 

The QI Project of the Year Award for Havering

Charlotte Peeling