STAFF from Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital were rewarded for their compassion, dedication and care at this year’s glitzy WOW! Awards Gala ceremony.

Basingstoke hospital’s Dr Priya Ilangovan was the night’s big winner after she collected two awards during the course of the evening at the Holiday Inn Winchester on February 7.

Almost 300 staff from Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, and Andover War Memorial Hospital attended the ceremony – where awards were handed out in nine different categories.

Dr Ilangovan was named winner of the Family and Clinical Support Services Award and also picked up the Rotary Club of Basingstoke Deane team award alongside her colleagues from ward G2.

She said: “I am very humbled to win these awards. I am proud of the whole team and department, so to win the team award was really special.

“Working in a great team is what makes you want to go back into work every day. We all share the same ethos and objectives and do everything we can to support one another.

“Working with children is brilliant. Sometimes, you can be working on them all night but they bounced back so quickly that they can be giving you high-fives by breakfast. When that happens, that is all the reward we need.”

The consultant paediatrician received a number of nominations, with patients’ families praising her for her dedication, manner and willingness to go beyond the call of duty for patients, making special arrangements to ensure children were able to spend Christmas at home and swiftly passing on information in a way that makes it easy for families to understand.

At the ceremony, the audience were treated to a special talk from Alex Lewis – who lost both of his arms, legs and part of his face after developing sepsis and was treated at Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

Other winners from the borough included Basingstoke hospital’s Emergency Department, which jointly collected the Medical Services Award and Foundation Doctor Dr Jamie Fryer, who won the Rotary Club of Basingstoke Deane Award (individual).

Local councillor Dan Putty also handed out his special award for Dementia Care.

Addressing the nominees, Elizabeth Padmore, chairman of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation, said: “I know many of you here consider what you do to be all in a day’s work and are modest about your achievements – but I encourage you to be very proud of your contribution.

“By doing what you do, you ensure that our patients receive the best possible clinical care and have an excellent experience and that our staff feel encouraged and want to do their best.”