Oxford University Hospitals announce staff awards finalists

More than 1,900 nominations were submitted for the Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) Staff Recognition Awards 2026, which celebrates the contributions of teams, individuals, volunteers and fundraisers across the trust.

The awards ceremony will take place on June 18 at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Douglas Graham, CEO of Oxford Hospitals Charity, said: “We are delighted to support the Staff Recognition Awards once again this year and play our part in thanking NHS staff who drive innovation and provide outstanding levels of care.

“It’s always a truly inspiring evening, full of the very best of the NHS, and we are really looking forward to this special event.”

The awards are supported by Oxford Hospitals Charity and aim to shine a light on those who go above and beyond in their roles.

Winners will be announced during the ceremony.

Finalists for the Award for Compassion include acute rehab support workers from the Complex Medical Unit, Cara Heafey, Lucinda Milligan and Jason Rigby.

The Award for Delivery finalists are the Antenatal Infection Group MDT, Apprenticeship Team, Endoscopy Decontamination Team and the Southampton Oxford Retrieval Team (SORT).

Shortlisted for the Award for Excellence are the Sagittarius Team (University-NHS Ulcerative Colitis Flare Programme), Sterile Service Decontamination Department, Dr Garry Tan and Kerrie Woods.

In the Award for Improvement category, Abi Egid, the Emergency Department and Same Day Emergency Care Quality Improvement Team, Tissue Donation Team and Zoe Lewis are finalists.

Those recognised in the Award for Learning include Dr Abhisek Ghosh, Mr Alpesh Kothari, Katy Mimpress and Dr Adan Taylor.

Temitayo Alakiu, the Community Paediatrics Team, Jonathan Jenkinson and Sam Pemberton are up for the Award for Respect.

Rising Star finalists are Jay Gawali, Megan Green, Lucy Harold and Melissa Worth.

In the Award for Sustainability, the Oxford Kidney Unit, Oxford Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics and Restorative Dentistry Team, Amanda Simpson and the Sustainable Eye Care Team are recognised.

For the Patients’ Choice Award, finalists are Mr Kirana Arambage, Jay Gawali, Candice Noonan and Dawn Sheppard.

The Oxford Hospitals Charity Award for Supporter or Volunteer of the Year finalists will be announced at a later date.

Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) is a world renowned centre of clinical excellence and one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the UK.

The trust is made up of four hospitals in Oxfordshire: John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford, and Horton General Hospital in Banbury.