The Team QEH Awards are a chance to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes, the innovators, the leaders, the teams, volunteers, and everyone who lives by the Trust’s values – Kindness, Wellness, Fairness – every day. This year more than 400 nominations were received across 13 categories.
Jo Segasby, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Delivery Officer for Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group, said:
“The nominations we received from patients and their loved ones describe the outstanding care, compassion and dedication shown by colleagues at The QEH. It has been incredibly moving to read some of the personal stories and hear firsthand about the difference our teams have made during some of the most difficult moments in people’s lives.
“I would like to thank everyone who took the time to submit a nomination and share their experiences. These heartfelt accounts shine a light on the remarkable people who work across Team QEH and the exceptional care they aim to provide.
“Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees and finalists. Every nomination is an achievement in itself, and we look forward to recognising and celebrating their contributions at the Team QEH Awards in October.”
The QEH is calling on patients, their families, and members of the local community to cast their vote for the ‘John Voaden’ Volunteer of the Year which will be announced at the awards ceremony in October.
A team of over 189 volunteers give up their time each and every day to make a difference to our patients and their families.
The ‘John Voaden’ Volunteer of the Year Award recognises and honours an outstanding individual or team who volunteer their time and talent at The QEH and make a significant contribution to the experience of our patients, their families and our staff.
The finalists are:
• Elizabeth Judge – Infant Feeding Volunteer
• Faith Hawksworth and Olivia Moore – Carido-respiratory Volunteers
• Sister Jane Russell- Chaplaincy Volunteer
The Team QEH Awards 2026 will take place on Tuesday 6 October at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange.
Last year’s winner of the John Voaden Volunteer of the Year Award was cancer-survivor Sarah Harvey. Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31 and returned to the hospital where she received life-saving care to give back to others going through similar challenges. Sarah now volunteers twice a week as a hospital buggy driver and also on a busy ward.
Speaking at the 2025 Awards Sarah said: “I am so honoured to be holding this award – everyone does such an amazing job and really deserves this award. To be chosen as the winner is truly overwhelming.”
Read more about the finalists of the ‘John Voaden’ Volunteer of the Year Award and cast your vote here. Voting closes at midnight on Friday 21 August.
The 2026 Team QEH Awards finalists are:
Exceptional Quality of Care Award
- Amy Haslam – Specialist Physiotherapist – Women’s Health
- Day Treatment Unit
- Women’s and Children’s Quality and Safety team
Clinical Team of the Year Award – Sponsored by Advanced Building Projects East Anglia Ltd
- Falls team
- Heart Failure team
- Paediatric Day Surgery
Non-Clinical Team of the Year Award – Sponsored by Bidwells
- Emergency Care and Medicine Ops team
- Play Specialists team
- Resourcing team
Rising Star Award
- Corinne Steade – Nursing Degree Apprentice (Healthcare Assistant) – Rudham Ward
- Ellie Greenfield – Senior Change Agent – Electronic Patient Records (EPR)
- July Lwin – Specialty Doctor – Stroke Medicine
Leader of the Year Award
- Emma Gabbatiss – Staff Nurse – Elm Ward
- Kayleigh McCourt – Sister / Charge Nurse – West Raynham Ward
- Nicola Smith – Sister / Charge Nurse – Theatres
Research and Innovation Award
- Gerard Gurumurthy – Foundation Year 1 (F1) – Urology
- Pradip Sarda – Consultant – Elderly Care
- Rudolf Duehmke – Consultant – Cardiology
Kindness Award – Sponsored by Castons Artelia
- Daisy Simons – Clinical Educator – Endoscopy Unit
- Nandu Vijayakumaran Nair Girija – Junior Sister / Charge Nurse – Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)
- Leanne Young – Housekeeper – Rudham Ward
Wellness Award
- Emmanuel Cabales – Digital Nursing & Midwifery – Electronic Patient Records (EPR)
- Mark Bredin – Chaplain
- William Bratby – Specialist Psychologist – Clinical Psychology
Fairness Award
- Anjana Jolly – Clinical Nurse Educator
- Gina Hunt – Community Midwife
- Jenifer Saravanan – Assistant Freedom to Speak Up Guardian
Unsung Hero Award – Sponsored by R G Carter
- Michael Underhill – Maintenance Technician – Mechanical Engineering
- Michelle Howlett – Housekeeper – NICU
- Richard Moss-Norbury – Cost Accountant and Finance business partner for Financial Improvement
Clinical Hero Award – Sponsored by Mott MacDonald
- Geminick Siriban – Junior Sister / Charge Nurse – Peddars Way End-of-Life Unit
- Jason Smith – Consultant – Radiologist
- Melanie Harding – Senior Stoma Care Specialist Nurse
Working Together Award
- Complex Discharge team
- Norfolk Blood Bikes
- Perinatal Specialist Clinical Network
Ends. Notes to editors; For media enquiries only, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216. For all other enquiries, please contact QEH Switchboard on 01553 613613.
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