The 2025 Gateshead Health Star Awards brought together staff, partners and our sponsors at The Fed in Dunston on Friday 7 November to celebrate the exceptional people who make a difference across our services every single day.
Hosted by Acting CEO, Sean Fenwick, the evening recognised outstanding contributions to patient care, innovation, safety and teamwork. Colleagues cheered as winners were announced across ten categories, each shining a light on the compassion, skill and commitment that define Gateshead Health.
Acting CEO Dr Sean Fenwick, during the event, thanked staff for their dedication:
“Every nominee represents the values that make Gateshead Health such a special place to work and receive care. These awards remind us of the difference our people make every single day.”
Below are the shortlisted nominees and winners from each award, in the order they were presented on the night.
Prevention and health inequalities award
Nominees: Hive Team; Digital Devices Repurposed for Maternity and Paediatrics; Dr Lizzie Wood (Compassionate Communities)
This award celebrates work to reduce barriers to care and promote fair access to services. Carmen Howey, Group Medical Director praised the nominees for “helping ensure that everyone, no matter their circumstances, can access the care and support they need.”
Winner: The Hive Team
The Hive Team delivers a vital service for some of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged patients. With empathy and determination, they ensure equitable access to both clinical care and wider support such as housing and substance use services. Their holistic, person-centred approach goes far beyond the expected, meeting people where they are and offering joined-up support when it matters most.
Runners-up:
Digital Devices Repurposed for Maternity and Paediatrics has taken an innovative approach to digital inclusion, repurposing used devices so families can access online maternity and paediatric services. This simple but effective idea has supported better communication and reduced barriers for those without access to technology.
Dr Lizzie Wood (Compassionate Communities) has played a vital role in building stronger connections between healthcare, social support and community networks. Her work has helped people facing social isolation and end-of-life challenges receive compassionate, joined-up care that extends well beyond the clinical setting.
Care and compassion award
Nominees: Christine Cavanagh; Safeguarding Adults Team; Chloe Bell
This award recognises kindness, empathy and emotional support in action.
Winner: Christine Cavanagh
Christine’s warmth, empathy and commitment to compassionate care shine through in everything she does. Whether supporting patients through difficult moments or mentoring colleagues, she approaches each person with understanding and respect. Christine’s ability to make others feel safe and valued reflects the heart of Gateshead Health’s caring culture.
Runners-up:
The Safeguarding Adults Team has shown exceptional empathy and professionalism in supporting vulnerable adults across the Trust. Their sensitive approach and ability to handle complex situations with care have helped protect and empower patients in difficult circumstances.
Chloe Bell is known for her kindness, calm presence and the reassurance she brings to patients. Her ability to connect on a personal level and offer genuine emotional support has made a lasting impression on both colleagues and those in her care.
Research and innovation award
Nominees: Maternity Research Team; Stroke Team; Northern Centre for Breast Research; Younger Person’s Memory Service – Woodside
This award celebrates the use of evidence, technology and collaboration to improve patient outcomes. Presenter Conor O’Neill said:
“Innovation is about courage — the courage to try new ideas and make care better than it was yesterday.”
Winner: The Stroke Team
The Stroke Team showcased a powerful example of innovation in rehabilitation. By introducing the Clevertouch Interactive Touchscreen into the stroke rehabilitation unit, they’ve transformed therapy sessions and increased engagement in line with national guidelines. The touchscreen enables therapy for up to four patients at once, with games mapped to clinical goals. It’s now embedded in daily care — showing how thoughtful innovation can transform patient outcomes.
Runners-up:
The Maternity Research Team continues to drive high-quality research that shapes national maternity practice. Their evidence-based projects have directly improved outcomes and safety for women and babies.
The Northern Centre for Breast Research has produced groundbreaking work in early detection and diagnosis. Their research has enhanced treatment pathways and contributed to national understanding of breast health.
The Younger Person’s Memory Service – Woodside has championed collaborative research into cognitive health, developing innovative ways to diagnose and support younger people living with memory issues.
People engagement and experience award
Nominees: Michelle Lewins; Pharmacy HWB Team; Lisa Stobbs; Kerry Gowland & Schwartz Team
This award recognises those who create positive, supportive and resilient teams.
Winner: Michelle Lewins
Michelle shows outstanding leadership and unwavering support, cultivating a culture of compassion and professionalism. She provides one-to-one guidance that uplifts morale, eases anxiety and helps staff feel heard and valued. Her calm and caring approach has built a strong, engaged and compassionate team environment.
Runners-up:
The Pharmacy HWB Team has been instrumental in promoting staff wellbeing through creative, inclusive activities. Their efforts have helped keep morale high, creating a culture of care and collaboration.
Lisa Stobbs is known for her calm leadership and genuine empathy. She consistently offers support and encouragement to colleagues, fostering a strong sense of teamwork and respect.
The Kerry Gowland & Schwartz Team has made a significant impact by providing reflective spaces for staff to share their experiences. Their work has strengthened wellbeing and improved resilience across departments.
Diagnostics award
Nominees: Kev Murley; Denise Bowmer; Laura Hodgkinson
This award recognises innovation and excellence in diagnostic services.
Presenter Dr Alice Leaver described the nominees as “the experts behind the images and data, whose work enables safe, accurate and timely care.”
Winner: Kev Murley
Kev is the heartbeat of the CT department — dependable, kind and always ready to help. He consistently goes above and beyond to maintain safe, seamless care, often stepping in at short notice. His innovation in IT and quality assurance has improved efficiency and reliability. Kev also mentors new starters with patience and warmth, embodying the Trust’s ICORE values every day.
Runners-up:
Denise Bowmer has shown exceptional dedication to developing efficient and reliable diagnostic services. Her focus on quality and precision has directly improved the patient experience.
Laura Hodgkinson is recognised for her commitment to teamwork and her proactive approach to problem-solving, ensuring every patient receives the best possible care.
Partnership working award
Nominees: Paula Brook-Regan; Discharge Hub; Breast Team
This award celebrates collaboration across teams and services to improve outcomes for patients.
Winner: Paula Brook-Regan
Paula is known across the Community Mental Health Team as the safeguarding expert and a trusted voice of experience. Her guidance has transformed how the team approaches complex cases, giving colleagues the confidence to advocate for patients at risk. She has also championed the use of the DASH checklist, helping staff identify and support those experiencing abuse. Paula’s leadership and compassion have had a lasting impact across services.
Runners-up:
The Discharge Hub has worked tirelessly to improve coordination between hospital and community services. Their collaboration has reduced delays and helped patients return home safely and smoothly.
The Breast Team has demonstrated outstanding teamwork across departments, ensuring joined-up care and better experiences for patients undergoing diagnosis and treatment.
Patient safety award
Nominees: Mandy Jardine; Sunniside Ward; Claire Davies
This award recognises those who have improved safety culture and embedded learning from experience.
Winner: Mandy Jardine
As Lead for the Radiology Vascular Access Team, Mandy acted swiftly after identifying a pattern of catheter fractures, ensuring incidents were escalated and investigated nationally. Her persistence resulted in a full product recall and redesign, directly improving patient safety both locally and nationally.
Runners-up:
Sunniside Ward has led improvements in ward-based safety culture, introducing practical measures that have reduced falls and medication errors. Their commitment to continuous learning has enhanced patient care.
Claire Davies has been instrumental in improving discharge safety through audit and feedback. Her detailed analysis and recommendations have reduced errors and strengthened communication between teams.
Fit for the future award
Nominees: Orthopaedic Pharmacy Team; Older Persons Mental Health Community Team; Reusable Surgical Instruments Project Team
This award celebrates innovation that improves efficiency, sustainability and care delivery.
Winner: Orthopaedic Pharmacy Team
By introducing pre-operative phone calls to patients ahead of elective orthopaedic surgery, the team has dramatically reduced last-minute cancellations and improved patient preparation. In ten weeks, their pilot prevented four same-day cancellations and is expected to save over £300,000 each year. Their approach is now being adopted across other elective surgery pathways — a perfect example of small change making a big impact.
Runners-up:
Older Persons Mental Health Community Team has improved the efficiency and responsiveness of community mental health services. Their proactive approach has enhanced coordination and reduced hospital admissions.
The Reusable Surgical Instruments Project Team has championed sustainability and safety through reusable solutions that reduce waste and save costs, without compromising patient care.
Women’s health award
Nominees: Helen Manderville; Sarah Browbank; Katie Mann
This award recognises efforts to improve women’s health, safety and experience.
Winner: Helen Manderville
Helen has shown remarkable commitment to improving women’s health services. She has worked tirelessly to make care safer, more responsive and more inclusive, ensuring that women’s voices are heard and their experiences inform service development. Her leadership and compassion have made a lasting difference to patients and colleagues alike.
Runners-up:
Sarah Browbank has made a meaningful contribution to improving maternity safety and patient experience. Her dedication to supporting families and staff has created a more positive and responsive service.
Katie Mann has championed equitable access to women’s health services, ensuring every woman feels supported, respected and cared for throughout her journey.
Patient experience award
Nominees: Raymond Robinson; Domestics Team; Plaster Tech Team
This award celebrates those who make a real difference to how patients and families experience care.
Presenter Kiran Singisetti summed it up perfectly: “This award is about kindness in action — the little things that mean everything to our patients.”
Winner: Domestic Services Team
Despite an exceptionally challenging winter marked by multiple ward outbreaks, the Domestic Services Team maintained their high standards of cleanliness, professionalism and care. Their resilience and teamwork helped the Trust achieve an outstanding PLACE audit score, reflecting their vital role in keeping patients safe and comfortable.
Runners-up:
Raymond Robinson is known for his compassion and positive energy. He makes patients feel genuinely cared for, creating moments of comfort and reassurance during difficult times.
The Plaster Tech Team combines technical skill with kindness and humour, helping patients feel at ease and supported during treatment. Their friendly, patient-focused approach is appreciated by everyone they meet.
A night to remember
The evening closed with thanks to all nominees, sponsors and staff who made the event possible. The atmosphere was one of pride, celebration and genuine gratitude, a night that reflected the spirit of Gateshead Health.
Congratulations to all our winners, nominees and everyone who received a nomination. Thank you to our sponsors Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria, Hadrian Air Conditioning, Katrin, University of Sunderland, Albany, NG-IT, Capsticks, Forfusion, B-Braun and Wassenburg Medical for supporting this year’s event.
