The fantastic achievements of staff and teams from across Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were recognised at a glittering awards ceremony last week.
The Trust proudly hosted their highly-anticipated Our People Awards on Friday night at Imperial Banqueting Suite, Preston.
The event, hosted by BBC Radio Lancashire's Graham Liver, was a heartfelt tribute to the compassion, dedication, and innovation shown by colleagues across the Trust. With 499 nominations, the evening spotlighted 31 exceptional finalists, culminating in 10 award category winners and six new Special Recognition Award recipients.
The Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Our People Awards had categories recognising and celebrating excellence in patient care, innovation, and the outstanding contribution made by colleagues across the Trust in several specialty areas. Nominations for the awards are made by LTH colleagues.
The ceremony also honoured the Trust’s Long Service Award winners, recognising colleagues who reached a milestone (20, 30, 40 or 50 years) working for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals during 2025 - testament to their enduring commitment to delivering excellent care with compassion.
Silas Nicholls, Chief Executive, praised the evening as “a fantastic opportunity to celebrate everything we do as an organisation."
He said, "Every year, you and your colleagues see hundreds of thousands of patients; we perform tens of thousands of operations, we deliver thousands of healthy babies, and fundamentally, we save lives, change lives, and we look after people. Thank you all.
Silas also took the opportunity to thank the sponsors who helped make the awards possible including Capsticks LLP, FWP Architects and the Trust’s own TED Engagement Tool.
A raffle held on the evening also raised a fantastic £2,306 for the Trust’s charities, and the proceeds of the raffle will be used to directly improve patient care across the Trust’s hospitals at Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley and South Ribble Hospital.
The full list of award winners for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Our People Awards 2025 is as follows:
Health and Wellbeing Award - Pharmacy Cultural and Health & Wellbeing Ambassadors Group
Formed in 2021, this group has created a supportive and inclusive environment across the pharmacy department. The Group have introduced several initiatives including 1:1 wellbeing meetings, welcome packs and awareness campaigns to enhance staff wellbeing and foster a positive workplace culture.
Flying Start Award - Martin Hall, Portering Services Manager, Chorley Hospital
Martin has joined the Trust in recent years and has brought impactful leadership to the portering team, earning the trust of his colleagues through his hands-on approach and a commitment to fairness. He has set high standards and led improvements in several areas including rota design, absence management and service changes, whilst embracing new systems and building strong relations across departments.
Improving the Patient Experience Award - Emma Pollard, Children’s Community Support Worker, Broadoaks
Emma has transformed the environment and patient experience for children and young people at Broadoaks in just six months. Her creativity and compassion shine through and she has introduced themed sensory spaces and engaging activities, many of which she prepared in her own time. She champions the voice of the child and is often praised for her inclusive, kind approach.
Leading From the Front Award - Louise Sloan, Head of Speech and Language Therapy
In under a year, Louise has transformed the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service through her visionary leadership. She introduced FEES (Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) at Chorley Hospital, improving care and preventing unnecessary procedures for patients. She has also halved outpatient waiting lists and revitalised team morale through structured job planning and training.
Living Our Values Award - Maggie Ditzel, Senior Healthcare Assistant, Ward 3
Senior Healthcare Assistant, Maggie consistently goes above and beyond to support patients and colleagues. From taking laundry home for patients without visitors to purchasing personal care items, she ensures everyone feels cared for and respected. Her kindness and dedication make her a valued colleague on Ward 3.
Special Recognition Awards
Corporate Services – Workforce Advice Team
The Workforce Advice Team provide expert and compassionate support for LTH colleagues on a range of employment matters. The team play a vital role in enhancing colleague wellbeing and patient care through their fairness, professionalism and inclusion of all colleagues.
Diagnostics & Clinical Support – Clinical Psychology Team
The Clinical Psychology Team have transformed access to psychology services by reducing neuropsychology wait times from over two years to under seven months and have set a model for sustainable improvement for the service.
Estates & Facilities – Jean Keig, Domestic Assistant
Domestic Assistant, Jean brings warmth and compassion to her role, supporting patients and colleagues with kindness, conversation, and thoughtful gestures that brighten everyone’s day.
Medicine – Lorna Hardman, Unit Manager, CDH ED
Emergency Department Unit Manager, Lorna has improved staff wellbeing through initiatives like ‘Star of the Month’ and patient experience through the introduction of a newly created quiet room. She works hard to drive service improvements and champion Trust values.
Surgery – Stoma Nursing Team
The Stoma Nursing Team have delivered expert, compassionate care that supports patients and families throughout their journey. Their consistent communication and emotional support make a lasting impact.
Women and Children – Stuart Massey, Rota Coordinator, Paediatrics
Rota Coordinator, Stuart ensures fair, flexible rota management that supports staff wellbeing and operational efficiency in the Trust’s Paediatric Department. His proactive, respectful approach has boosted morale and improved patient care.
Best Innovation Award - Dr Abhijit Das, Neurology Consultant
Dr Das has transformed care for Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) by launching the region’s first dedicated FND service. His patient-centred model integrates digital therapies like immersive VR and clinical hypnosis - making it the first of its kind in the UK. His work has gained national recognition and inspired wider change.
Outstanding Contribution to Education Award - Penny Page, Pathology Training Officer
Pathology Training Officer, Penny plays a key role in developing and supporting future biomedical scientists, offering personalised, holistic training that supports individual growth. She leads outreach and education initiatives and has earned national recognition for her exceptional mentorship and impact.
Best Safety Initiative Award - Race and Health Observatory Maternity Improvement Team
This multidisciplinary team tackled inequalities in maternal health, focusing on reducing postpartum haemorrhage among ethnic minority women. By applying anti-racism principles and co-designing interventions, they achieved a sustained reduction in PPH rates from 12% to 9%, gaining national recognition for their inclusive, data-driven approach.
Making a Difference Award - Debbie Tickle, Recruitment Manager
Recruitment Manager, Debbie has been a driving force behind recruitment success at LTH, demonstrating excellence and integrity throughout her 40-year NHS career. As Armed Forces Lead, she helped the Trust achieve Armed Forces Covenant Gold status and has streamlined recruitment processes, making a lasting impact on workforce development and inclusivity.
Team of the Year – Ward 12
Ward 12 has undergone a remarkable transformation since 2022, overcoming staffing challenges and rebuilding morale through strong leadership and initiatives like teaching sessions and a buddy system. The team earned Silver and then Gold Star accreditation, becoming a model of excellence with consistently high patient feedback and a fully recruited team.
