Compassion, dedication and excellence took centre stage as Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust celebrated its Healthcare Heroes, recognising staff and teams whose commitment makes a lasting difference to patients, colleagues and communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Sponsored by a number of local businesses, the event coincided with the 78th anniversary of the NHS this month, and took place at the Leonardo Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton. Following a rigorous judging process, 70 finalists were invited to attend the evening, which highlighted the dedication, compassion and achievements of colleagues from across the Trust.
“These awards give us a valuable opportunity to recognise colleagues who embody our CARE values—Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence. They celebrate colleagues at every stage of their careers, from those just beginning their NHS journey to those who have dedicated a lifetime of service. They shine a light on inspiring leaders, unsung heroes and those making a real difference to patient safety, as well as recognising the vital contribution of our corporate support colleagues and the strength and impact of our teams,” said Neil Hayward, Trust Chair.
2026 Healthcare Hero Award Winners:
- Annual CARE Award – Mark Langford, Senior Peer Support Worker, Sandham House, Isle of Wight
- Respect and Compassion Award – Lucy Darwin, Care Support Lead, The Orchards, Portsmouth
- Accountability and Excellence Award – Lindsay Andrewartha and Kristy Hepworth, Team Leaders, East Community Mental Health Team based at Bitterne Park Medical Centre, Southampton
- Leading with Care Award – Rajeeve Matthew, Nurse Team Leader, Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, Basingstoke
- Patient Safety Award – Children and Families Southampton Crisis Team
- Improving Staff Experience Award – Joanna Loizou, Ward Manager, Hamtun Ward at Antelope House
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Jenny Nops, Clinical Service Matron for Mid and North Hampshire, Cromwell House, Winchester
- Rising Star Award – Roxy James, Healthcare Assistant, Community Nursing South, Isle of Wight
- Corporate/Support Colleague of the Year – Nick Burton, Security Manager
- Patient Choice Award – Casey Street, Community Mental Health Nurse, Melbury Lodge, Winchester
- Unsung Hero Award – Nathan Clifford, Culture of Care, Lived Experience and Participation Lead
- Team of the Year Award – Bed Management and Patient Flow Team
Nathan Clifford, Head of Lived Experience for Inpatient Mental Health and winner of the Unsung Hero Award shared;
“I’m super grateful for this award, thank you to my nominator for nominating me. I don’t do what I do for recognition, so it really feels great to be seen and recognised.
That I am so incredibly proud to have been nominated alongside so many amazing nominations. I am proud to work for the Trust and was blown away by all the incredible stories.”
Ron Shields, Chief Executive of the Trust, said:
“Throughout my career, I have been inspired by the compassion, dedication and innovation of the people I have had the pleasure to work alongside.
“The last seven years working across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have been among the most rewarding of my career. Hearing the stories behind tonight’s nominations has reinforced what fantastic people we have in this Trust—people who make an extraordinary difference every day.”
The evening was made possible thanks to the generous support of event sponsors*. The Trust extends its sincere gratitude to the overall sponsors of the event, Medirest, Silver Sponsors Bidfood and RLDatix. Sponsors Brighterway and Diguru also played a vital role in supporting the event, with Diguru providing printing services. Special thanks are also given to Red Funnel for their contribution to travel support.
(* Please note: sponsorship does not equate to endorsement of a company or its products by the Trust.)