Published on: 29 April 2026
A celebration night has once again recognised NHS workers for their outstanding care, leadership and dedication.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) has hosted its fourth Annual Staff Recognition Awards, celebrating the outstanding efforts of its workforce and those who go above and beyond to support the Trust’s vision of ‘Excellence in all that we do'.
The awards see staff from across the organisation put forward their colleagues, shining a light on the achievements and impact of peers working in community services, hospital settings and support teams.
This year, more than 450 nominations were submitted across 16 award categories, recognising individuals and teams who have demonstrated excellence in patient care, leadership, innovation, sustainability, equality and compassion.
The nominations also highlighted unsung heroes and those whose careers have been dedicated to helping others, including recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ken Bremner MBE is Chief Executive of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. He shared:
“Each year, our Staff Recognition Awards provide a powerful reminder of the incredible people who make up our Trust. The quality and volume of nominations reflect the dedication, compassion and professionalism shown by colleagues every single day.
"We saw outstanding examples of people going above and beyond for patients, supporting one another as teams, and living our values in everything they do. While these awards recognise just a snapshot of the amazing work taking place across our services, they give us a vital opportunity to pause, say thank you, and celebrate those who are making a real difference for our communities.
"On behalf of our Governors, Board and Executive Team, I would like to congratulate all those who were nominated and recognised this year, and thank everyone involved in making the evening such a memorable celebration.”
The celebration was held at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland and was made possible thanks to the continued support of sponsors, including the Trust’s own STS Charity, alongside NHS Professionals, Spark TSL, Trustmarque, Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria, DAC Beachcroft, National Institute for Health and Care Research, and Serve and Protect. The event was also supported by Choice, the Trust’s wholly owned subsidiary providing estates and facilities services.
For more information about the Staff Recognition Awards 2026 winners, click the link below.
Winners 2026
Award winners 2026:
- Customer Service Award
Winner: Andrea Hewitt, Pharmacy Assistant, Pharmacy
Shortlisted: Paediatric Secretaries Admin Supports and Ward Clerks, Receptionists and caretakers at WPCC, Victoria Jones, MS Co-ordinator, MS Team.
- Care and Compassion Award
Winner: Lily Turnbull, Staff Nurse, EAU/D44 SRH
Shortlisted: Mohammed Hussain, Lead Outpatient Pharmacist, Pharmacy and Rachel Embleton, HCA, Paediatrics
- Championing Equality Award
Winner: Ayesha Marshall, Tissue Viability Consultant, Tissue Viability
Shortlisted: Lung Cancer Screening Programme, Renal Admin Team
- Outstanding Contribution Award
Winner: Chris Hartley, Consultant, Ear Nose and Throat
Shortlisted: Janine Beezer, Advanced Clinical Pharmacist, Integrated Heart Failure Team, Sarah Ewart, Urology MDT Co-ordinator, Cancer Services
- Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner(s): Florrie Mowatt, Vascular Nurse Specialist, Vascular
Shortlisted: Chris Settle, Consultant, Infection Prevention and Control Team/Microbiology, Julie Porter, Occupational Health Specialist Nurse, Occupational Health
- Leadership Award
Winner: Natalie Graham, Acting Matron for Maternity Community and Antenatal Day Services, Maternity Team
Shortlisted: Adam Remmer, Ward Manager, ICAR, Lorna Gillespie Consultant, Neonatal Unit, Stella Devlin, Head of Paediatric Audiology, Audiology.
- Rising Star Award
Winner: Isabelle Forbister, Apprentice HCA, EAU
Shortlisted: Ellie Hodgeson, ICT Infrastructure Technician, IT, Jade Burrell, Domestic Supervisor, Choice
- Sustainability Award
Winner: Ali Khan, Energy & Sustainability Officer, Choice
Shortlisted: STSFT Tree Planting Project Team
- Research Award
Winner: Ophthalmology Research Team
Shortlisted: Aya Musbahi, Consultant Surgeon, General Surgery, Cardiology Team, Uma Nath, Consultant Neurologist and Parkinson's disease specialist, Neurology
- Innovation Award
Winner: Daniel Harrison, Advanced Practitioner Pharmacist, Hospital at Home/Virtual Wards
Shortlisted: Caroline Ewers and Sophie Heslop, SALT, ICAR
- Unsung Hero – Community
Winner: Kelly Brown, Admin, School Based Mental Health Support Team
Shortlisted: Ernest (Bwalya) Chienga, Exercise Practitioner, Steps to Health Sunderland, Joan Cannell, HCA, District Nursing Team
- Unsung Hero – Corporate
Winner: Layton Forster, Porter, Choice
Shortlisted: Kerry Wynn, Clinical Nurse Educator, Infection, Prevention and Control, Luke Baillie, Education and Training Systems Officer, Education and Training
- Unsung Hero – Acute
Winner: Yan Cunningham, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Trauma and Orthopaedics
Shortlisted: Debra Tulip, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Acute Stroke and Neuro Rehab Team, Emmanuel Ndubuisi, Nurse, E54, Judith Middlemass, Secretary, Vascular
- Community Team of the Year
Winner: Recovery at Home
Shortlisted: Community Dental, Community Learning Disabilities Team
- Corporate and Support Services Team of the Year
Winner: Telecomms Team
Shortlisted: Domestic Abuse Health Advocate Team, Financial Services Team
- Acute Team of the Year
Winner: Dementia and Delirium Outreach Team
Shortlisted: Ophthalmology A&E, Ward B28
- Governors’ Award
Winner: Judith Middlemass, Vascular Secretary
- Chief Executive’s Award
Winner: Mary Spearman, Clinical Director of Therapies (recently retired)
