It was cheers and applause all round as Assistant Director Immediate Care, Debbie Feetham, was announced as the winner of the Leadership Award in our staff Make a Difference awards, which celebrates our winners from 2019-2020.

As we began our response to COVID-19, we had to cancel our awards ceremony in March – but we didn’t let the pandemic stop us celebrating our amazing colleagues. Including Debbie who, even during the pandemic, has gone above and beyond to provide support and care to her colleagues while they worked through the most challenging time in NHS history by secretly delivering them small gifts and writing personal messages.

Although we couldn’t come together for our celebrations in the same way this year, we decided to mark Debbie’s amazing achievements a little differently with a surprise visit from our Chief Executive, Professor Oliver Shanley OBE, and Chair, Joe Fielder.

With her team and colleagues gathered together for their usual meeting at Goodmayes Hospital, Debbie was thoroughly surprised when Oliver announced her as the winner of our Leadership award in recognition of her compassionate, supportive, thoughtful and caring leadership.

Oliver Shanley, Chief Executive, said: “This award is such a fantastic and well-deserved achievement and accolade for Debbie, who is simply an amazing leader.

“The long list of testimonies we received about her compassion, care and her focus on patients and staff was superb.”

Joe Fielder, Chair, said: “What really stands out about Debbie’s leadership is the small things she does to support and care for her colleagues. She’s a fantastic leader, she makes time for everyone and listens and acts on what she hears. Congratulations Debbie, you’re a real worthy winner of this Make a Difference award.”

Her colleague who nominated her said: “Debbie is a rock to all her teams. She always has heart to what she does and always puts her staff and patients in the centre. She is very visible on the frontline and is always prepared to get her hands dirty – literally! I have seen her put on her physio uniform and help out on the wards! You know when someone is really able to understand what you face on a daily basis when they are prepared to work alongside you.

“She is a role model to us all.”

Debbie said: “This has been really surprising and it’s really lovely and I’m really grateful for my teams who nominated me because it means a lot.

“I’m very lucky to work with such brilliant teams that make me look good, but really it’s them who do it all, so a huge thank you to them.”

Every year our Make a Difference Awards recognise staff who go above and beyond to deliver great care for our patients and support each other, and Debbie – who was selected as a winner before the pandemic – is an examples of a true NHS hero.

Meet all our Make a Difference winners

• NELFT Nurse Award: Rose Mitchell, Community Staff Nurse
• Care and Compassion Award: Rose Mitchell, Community Staff Nurse
• Team/Department Award: Acute Crisis and Assessment Team (ACAT)
• Leadership Award: Debbie Feetham, Assistant Director Immediate Care
• Outstanding Achievement Award: Salim Danyen, Integrated Care Assistant
• Improvement to Services Award: Karen Mills, Deputy Ward Manager
• Working in Partnership Award: Jennifer Iheanetu, School Nurse
• Chair’s Special Recognition Award: Justine Reed, Respiratory Nurse
• Harm Free Care Award: Diane Quinn, Community Mental Health Nurse