THE compassion, dedication and care shown by staff at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been celebrated at a national ceremony.

Four staff from the trust were shortlisted as finalists in four categories at The WOW! Awards Annual Gala 2017 with musculoskeletal specialist physiotherapist Chris Mitchell scooping the ‘WOW! You changed my life’ award thanks to his continued dedication to help patient Joy Deadman walk again, following years of complications and setbacks.

The WOW! Awards are an internationally run awards programme which recognise the delivery of outstanding customer care by teams and individuals committed to delivering the best possible service with finalists were chosen from over 20,000 nominations from a broad range of organisations across the UK, Europe and Australia.

Chris won his award for his determination to help Joy walk again through the hours of physiotherapy undertaken at Basingstoke Hospital.

Chris collected his award in front of an audience of hundreds of people that included chief executive of the Trust, Alex Whitfield, and Joy.

He said: “Just being shortlisted from 20,000 to the final four was a massive honour so to win was amazing and such an honour.

“When you work in a hospital you think you are just doing your job so this really means a lot. My fellow nominees all do an amazing job and it meant to lot to even be in the same category as them.

“I’m really pleased that this award has highlighted the work that we do in physiotherapy – it is much more than exercise! We are often a shoulder to cry on and help to educate our patients. We regularly see patients over a long period of time, as in the case with Joy you can build a relationship and celebrate each small victory together.

“I am lucky because as part of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust we are allowed to treat the patient rather than have a set number of sessions, which allows us to deliver a good service. I work with a great team in outpatients so this award is for them as well.”

Joy, who nominated Chris, said: “His care and compassion for all of his patients is amazing and I’m so thrilled he has won this award.

“I feel privileged to have been at the award ceremony to watch him receive an award that he so deserves.”

Joy was also honoured at the ceremony for the 43 years she has volunteered at the trust, where she also currently serves as a governor.

The critical care team in the intensive care unit at Royal Hampshire County Hospital and domestic assistant Sue Driver who also works at the Winchester hospital were both finalists in their respective categories, whilst the trust was also a finalist for its use of the staff recognition scheme.

Alex Whitfield, chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals, which runs Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and Andover War Memorial Hospital, said: “We are incredibly proud of the care our staff provide and the compassion and dedication they show to patients and their families every day.

“All of the nominees achieved something really special to become finalists and a particular well done to Chris, who is incredibly deserving of the recognition he has received.”