MEMBERS of staff at Basingstoke hospital and others in the region have been honoured.

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust staff have been celebrated at a special WOW! Awards ceremony.

The lunch took place to celebrate 68 winners of the awards nominated by colleagues, patients or visitors between January and April for going above and beyond in their care for patients, or how they work with the rest of their team.

A total of 1,263 nominations were made within the four-month period for staff across the trust, which includes Basingstoke hospital, Andover War Memorial Hospital and Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester.

Sharon Burrowes, a ward support worker at Basingstoke hospital, was nominated by the family of a young patient who were touched by her kindness to make the family as comfortable as possible.

The nomination described Sharon as a ‘treasure’ for how she did everything she could to make sure the entire family felt looked after while in hospital.

Sharon said: “It was a bit of a surprise to win a WOW! Award, but I am really grateful to the family for nominating me.

“I just feel like I am doing my job, so to win an award is really special.”

Clinical matron Suzanne Wood, who works closely with community partners, received two WOW! Awards at the celebration.

She was recognised for the help and support she provided to a patient at the end of their life and their family, with the family member who nominated Suzanne saying she was their ‘guardian angel.’

Speaking at the event, Suzanne said: “I am really overwhelmed to have even been nominated by the family after they had been through such a difficult time, but I was really glad to be able to help them make that situation a little bit easier.

“I am really passionate about making sure that we not only provide the best clinical care, but we are also there for our patients as an emotional support when needed.”

A number of wards were also celebrated for receiving a large number of WOW! Award nominations.

Three wards at Basingstoke hospital have all received 50 nominations from patients, families and colleagues, whilst Kemp Welch ward in Winchester and ward C3 in Basingstoke have both received an outstanding 100 nominations.