In the week that the NHS turns 70, on 5 July 2018, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust will be celebrating the achievements of extraordinary NHS staff and volunteers at the Trust, the everyday heroes, that have gone the extra mile, during its annual You’re a Star Awards.

Fifteen finalists will be recognised at an Oscars-style ceremony, on 6 July 2018, where guests will be welcomed to the prestigious evening and will hear the winners of the five award categories announced.  This year’s categories include Innovation and Quality, Working Together, Non-Clinical Stars, Unsung Hero and Improving Patient Experience.

Kimberley Evans, a member of the research and development team is amongst the fifteen finalists and has been nominated in the Unsung Hero Award category.  Kimberley’s lifesaving research identified dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) in the home of a couple who were taking part in a Care Trust research trial.

Elaborating further Kimberley said: “I was working on a research project and as part of the study I took a carbon monoxide reading. The couple involved in the study, who were both smokers, were feeling lethargic and had put it down to not feeling well. When I tested the couple’s carbon monoxide levels they were higher than usual.  I even tested myself and found a reading there, despite being a non-smoker. It became apparent that there was leaking carbon monoxide into the property.”

Kimberley’s sharp insight averted disaster and prevented the couple from unwittingly being poisoned by the silent killer.

John Hiley, Head of Research at the Care Trust, nominated Kimberly for the award and said: “The way in which Kimberley responded in this situation was outstanding; we often talk about research saving lives and this is a brilliant example of it being done in such a clear and dramatic way.”

On being nominated for an award, Kimberly said: “It feels amazing to have been nominated for this award and very humbling.”

Other finalists include the Trust’s fluoride varnish team who are committed to improving the oral health of our local communities; the specialist palliative care team dedicated to providing peaceful and dignified end of life care; Prashant Wasnik a committed assistant ward manager, at Lynfield Mount Hospital, who has been making a real difference to patients by delivering outstanding person-centred care; Bingley Medical Practice District Nurse team who go the extra mile to ensure the needs of the patients they serve are met; Ruth Wood, an occupational therapist at the Care Trust’s Dementia Assessment Unit who always puts patients at the heart of  care; Clive Harrison, a Champions Show the Way volunteer who is extremely committed to helping others reduce social isolation by leading successful reminiscence and family history sessions in the community; Grainne Eloi, Interim Head of Mental Health Services for the Trust who has been working together with the local authority, police and voluntary sector agencies to improve urgent and emergency mental health crisis support; Emma Greenwood a project support officer within the nursing development team, who regularly goes above and beyond to help support colleagues; estates and facilities who have been noted for their customer focus and ‘can do’ attitude in delivering essential support to staff across the Trust; the Car Trust’s assessment and treatment unit that support people with learning disabilities and mental health problems whose needs cannot be supported at home; administrators Jacqueline Duggan, Tina Sparks and Diane Wright  who provide key support to the frontline Children’s Services team in Wakefield; Wendy Antill a physiotherapist from the complex care team who finds innovative ways to support patients and carers;  the Trust’s nursing development team for their virtual community placement programme, which helps to develop first year nursing students in the infancy of their careers; and Annette Whomack-Brown, an activity coordinator at Lynfield Mount Hospital whose innovative idea to open the Four Seasons Café at the hospital has led to patients and their families having a non-clinical space to spend quality time together, out of the ward environment.

The work of the finalists will be showcased through short films and many of the people who nominated will be there to cheer on their healthcare heroes.

Winners will also receive £1,000 to support their ongoing work to benefit people who use Care Trust services, courtesy of the event’s main supporter Bradford-based Sovereign Health Care.