Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust celebrated its Annual Staff Awards on Friday, 24th January, at the Hilton Hotel in Dartford. The event was attended by staff from across the Trust, coming together to recognise the hard work and dedication of colleagues over the past year.
Each category celebrated the invaluable work of staff, whether they are on the front line delivering patient care or working behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly.
The CEO Award, personally selected by Jonathan Wade, Chief Executive Officer, was the highlight of the evening. This award recognises an individual or team who has gone above and beyond in their dedication to the Trust and its values.
The ceremony was not only a celebration of success but also an opportunity to reflect on the hard work and commitment that staff bring to their roles every day.
Congratulations to all the winners, runners-up, and nominees. Your efforts make a tremendous difference to patients and colleagues, and we are proud of everything you achieve.
As we look to the year ahead, we want to thank every member of staff for their continued dedication. We look forward to celebrating even more achievements at the 2025 awards.
The evening featured 10 award categories, celebrating contributions from all areas of the Trust:
Chief Executive Officer Award
Congratulations to the Mortuary team—this year’s winners of the CEO Award! The team was personally selected by Jonathan Wade, Chief Executive Officer, to receive this prestigious honour.
*Awaiting wording from the official nomination.
Admin & Clerical Champion
Congratulations to Lisa Wake, winner of the Admin & Clerical Champion award for 2024. Lisa was nominated by Jey Nicholas, who said in their nomination:
“Lisa embodies excellence, going beyond her responsibilities to support staff and patients. Her proactive attitude and exceptional organisational skills make her an indispensable asset.”
Congratulations to Louise Stapley, runner-up for the Admin & Clerical Champion award for 2024. Louise was nominated by Jemima Rowe & Amy Facey, who said in their nomination:
“Louise spent countless hours creating a database for over 400 patients, ensuring they were transitioned from paper files to digital, and improving patient care.”
Administrative Team of the Year
Congratulations to the Bereavement & Medical Examiners Team, winners of the Administrative Team of the Year award for 2024. They were nominated by Dr Jane Stevens and Dr Islam Abdo, who highlighted the team's exceptional dedication and compassion.
Dr Jane Stevens said in her nomination:
“The team goes above and beyond, supporting bereaved relatives, working with counsellors, ensuring timely faith funerals, and offering meaningful gestures such as knitted hearts to symbolise the connection between the bereaved and the deceased.”
Dr Islam Abdo added:
“They provide comfort and support to families during the most difficult times, ensuring a smooth process for medical examiner reviews and facilitating faith funerals, sometimes within six hours. Their words and actions stay with the bereaved forever.”
Congratulations to the Trust Security Team, runners-up for the Administrative Team of the Year award for 2024. Jo Hand and Lee Barnes were nominated by Di Gambrell and Lauren Julie-Rusz, who said in their nomination:
“Jo and Lee consistently de-escalate challenging situations with expertise and empathy, creating a safer environment for both patients and staff.”
Allied Health Professional / Pharmacy Team Member of the Year
Congratulations to Fiona Sylvester, winner of the Allied Health Professional / Pharmacy Team Member of the Year award for 2024. Fiona was nominated by Sally Hall, who said in their nomination:
“Fiona’s work piloting Stimulan Beads for diabetic foot infections has improved patient outcomes by reducing amputations, infections, and hospital stays.”
Congratulations to Charlotte Paterson, runner-up for the Allied Health Professional / Pharmacy Team Member of the Year award for 2024. Charlotte was nominated by Leanne Hunt, who said in their nomination:
“Charlotte developed a holistic, trauma-informed care approach for patients with alcohol-related brain injuries, improving their outcomes and quality of life.”
Clinical Team of the Year
Congratulations to the Children’s Hospital at Home Team, winners of the Clinical Team of the Year award for 2024. They were nominated by Clare Jones, who said in their nomination:
“The nursing team all have acute specialised senior nursing backgrounds. They draw on their colleagues experience providing a holistic care delivery to patients they empower caregivers through education, equipping them with essential skills.”
Congratulations to the Paediatric Phlebotomy Team, runners-up for the Clinical Team of the Year award for 2024. Leanne Suthanah and Kerry Winterton said in their nomination:
“The team’s new blood sample logging system has prevented repeat tests, minimising distress for children and improving service efficiency.”
Doctor / Consultant of the Year
Congratulations to Dr Aref Rastegar, winner of the Doctor / Consultant of the Year award for 2024. Dr Rastegar was nominated by Dr Harmeet Seehra, who said in their nomination:
“Dr Rastegar’s compassion and leadership inspire confidence in his colleagues, and his hands-on approach ensures both patient safety and staff wellbeing.”
Congratulations to Dr Jayasimha Abbaraju, runner-up for the Doctor / Consultant of the Year award for 2024. Dr Abbaraju was nominated by Anca Gherman, who said in their nomination:
“Dr Abbaraju’s patient-centred approach and the fast-track diagnostic system he developed have significantly reduced delays in treatment.”
Healthcare Support Worker / Healthcare Assistant of the Year
Congratulations to Terry Balcombe, winner of the Healthcare Support Worker of the Year award for 2024. Terry was nominated by Elizabeth Tweddell, who said in their nomination:
“Terry’s warm, respectful nature reassures patients in difficult moments, and his dedication to helping colleagues goes far beyond his role.”
Congratulations to Clare Erincoglu, runner-up for the Healthcare Support Worker of the Year award for 2024. Clare was nominated by Lucy Flight, who said in their nomination:
“Clare’s empathy and support for both patients and the respiratory team, including coordinating life-changing referrals, make her an invaluable colleague.”
Journey to Outstanding
Congratulations to Debbie McMillan, winner of the Journey to Outstanding award for 2024. Debbie was nominated by Guru Kumar, who said in their nomination:
“Debbie has transformed the MS service into a sub-regional centre, providing cutting-edge care and ensuring that even the most complex cases are treated locally.”
Congratulations to Will Ferreira, runner-up for the Journey to Outstanding award for 2024. Will was nominated by Girish Ramlugun, who said in their nomination:
“Will’s leadership has improved theatre utilisation, introduced innovative systems, and championed the successful implementation of robotic surgery.”
Nurse / Midwife of the Year
Congratulations to Roli Sheke, winner of the Nurse / Midwife of the Year award for 2024. Roli was nominated by Christine Handy, who said in their nomination:
“Roli has excelled in cancer nursing, developing advanced clinical skills in record time and delivering holistic, compassionate care to her patients.”
Congratulations to Kerrie Knowler, runner-up for the Nurse / Midwife of the Year award for 2024. Kerrie was nominated by Natasha Chandler-Honnor, who said in their nomination:
“Kerrie has expanded Willow Day Care Unit’s services, improving care for regular transfusion patients and creating meaningful initiatives for young patients.”
Volunteer of the Year
Congratulations to Josie Mason, winner of the Volunteer of the Year award for 2024. Josie was nominated by Lindsey Nash, who said in their nomination:
“Josie provides a friendly face, reassurance, and compassionate care for patients, especially those living with dementia, during their hospital stay.”
*Lindsey Nash (left) accepted on behalf of Josie.
Congratulations to Trevor Williams, runner-up for the Volunteer of the Year award for 2024. Trevor was nominated by Sally George, who said in their nomination:
“Trevor’s tireless work to improve wheelchair availability and his dedication to fundraising and patient support have made a lasting impact.”