THE efforts of staff to deliver exemplary care to all patients in Swindon and beyond were recognised at the Great Western Hospital’s annual excellence awards.

For the fifth year running the successes of doctors, nurses, midwives and others were celebrated at a Rio carnival-themed ceremony at the Steam Museum, which saw outstanding teams and individuals scoop one of eight coveted accolades.

Among the winners were the Emergency Department team, who were awarded the Team Of The Year trophy for their ability to adapt and even improve patient experience in spite of a large refurbishment project at the unit.

Clinical lead matron Annette Baskerville said: “It is lovely to win this award and have recognition for all the hard work that the whole team put in through those difficult months.

“The refurbishment work last year meant that we had to shut parts of the department but the team made sure that patient safety was always maintained.” The Compassion In Practice Award was won by the Bereavement Services team at GWH, a group of four women with one of the most emotionally challenging jobs in the trust.

Bereavement Services manager Samantha Cunningham said: “I feel so proud as a manager that my team of girls were nominated. “We work behind the scenes a lot of the time, so the majority of people do not understand the role of our department. “My team will always go that extra mile to make the bereavement process as easy as possible for the grieving family.

The People’s Choice Award, voted for by patients across the trust, was handed to Fiona Robinson, a physiotherapist at Malmesbury Primary Care Centre.

More than 400 health practitioners, from doctors and nurses to midwives and community dentists, attended the ceremony in a show of support for their shortlisted colleagues.

The awards, which were first hosted in 2010, were set up to recognise exemplary service and care across Swindon and Wiltshire.

Nerissa Vaughan, chief executive of the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Board, said: “These awards are an opportunity for us to really say a big thank you to all our fantastic staff who have gone that extra mile. “Working in a busy NHS trust, we don’t always get the chance to stop and reflect on the difference our staff make. I am fully aware how hard they work so their continuing dedication is something that deserves to be celebrated.”