Outstanding surgical team recognised for their life-changing work in cancer care
The Ovarian Ultraradical Theatre Team at Royal Derby Hospital (RDH) recently received well-deserved recognition for their dedication and expertise in supporting patients undergoing complex surgeries for advanced ovarian cancer.
The team, whose work has a profound impact on patient outcomes and experience, take on some of the most challenging cases at UHDB - delivering intricate, lengthy procedures on patients with a remarkable level of teamwork and skill.
The surgeries they perform aim to remove as much of the identified cancer as possible, often involving the removal of additional organs and tissues in doing so - increasing the chances of long-term survival and a greater quality of life. These are known as ultra-radical, or maximal effort cytoreductive surgeries.
The team's responsibilities are intensive, and extend far beyond the operating room and routine surgical support - whether that's emotional support for the patient, or staying with each patient after surgery until they are safely transferred to the next step in their treatment journey, even if that means they work into the night.
Yuliya Johnson is a coordinator in the department and she nominated her colleagues for an Excellence Award - part of our monthly Making a Difference Awards awarded to colleagues - for their dedication to enhancing the experience of our patients by continuing to seek new ways to improve the care they deliver, no matter how big or small.
Following this nomination, the team were presented with the Excellence Award by our Executive Chief People Officer, Amanda Rawlings, during a surprise ceremony where the whole team were celebrated while they were wearing their theatre scrubs, ready to start another day of caring for women on their planned surgical list.
Yuliya reflected on this memorable occasion for the team, marking a moment of well-deserved recognition for countless hours of dedicated work - saying she was "thrilled" to see their reaction to the award presentation.
She continued: "When Amanda arrived, there was such an explosion of happiness - like we'd just scored the winning goal in a football match! Seeing the joy and pride on everyone's faces will stay with us all - it was a moment of true celebration.
"The award will be displayed prominently in our department - and I hope will serve as a visible reminder of this moment, and the excellence we strive for every day."
Due to the complexity and duration of the procedures they deliver, every member of the team plays a critical role throughout - positioning the patient, providing anaesthetic support, maintaining body temperature, monitoring vital signs, ensuring the patient's dignity is respected throughout, and much more.
The team continuously seek to find more ways to improve the service they offer. Sarah Bishop, Lead Practitioner in Gynaecology Theatres explained further, saying that they "act as patient advocates" during every surgical procedure.
She continued: "Maintaining the dignity of our patients throughout the whole process is of paramount importance, and this devoted team continuously work to improve their time in hospital with us - whether that's through emotional support, trialling advanced warming blankets to reduce post-operative complications, introducing more effective dressings, auditing procedural times, or streamlining equipment.
"They leave no stone unturned in their mission to make each patient's experience as positive and safe as possible. Despite the challenges of the care they deliver, they maintain a high level of professionalism, and remain keenly motivated to go above and beyond every day.
"I was absolutely delighted to hear that this hard work had been acknowledged through the team winning the Excellence Award - which has been such a boost for our entire department and every individual involved. I felt it was entirely fitting that Yuliya was co-ordinating on the day of the ceremony, highlighting she was the one who had made the nomination, so in a way I hope she sees this as recognition for her work too."
For Executive Chief People Officer, Amanda Rawlings, attending the department to present the award to the Ovarian Ultraradical Theatre Team was a deeply meaningful experience. She explained: "This team exemplifies what it means to make a difference. Their dedication is inspiring - and their ability to bring such positive energy into an incredibly demanding role, where our patients are going through some of the most challenging times of their lives, is something we can all be proud of.
"It's not just their technical skill that they bring to the theatre - the compassion, respect, and commitment they show to each of our patients is an embodiment of our Trust values, and I'm delighted to recognise their incredible work with this award."
Would you like to nominate a colleague for a Monthly Making a Difference Award?
If you would like to nominate a colleague or team for a monthly Making a Difference Award, please let us know.
Our monthly Making a Difference Awards celebrate those who have shown exceptional care and who have delivered improvements across safety, quality, effectiveness and patient experience and demonstrated the Trust values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence.
There are three monthly Making a Difference Awards categories:
- CEO Award – chosen by our Chief Executive, Stephen Posey
- Patient Hero Award – nominated by our patients
- Excellence Award - colleagues and teams
You can nominate in two ways:
- By completing this new e-form which will be sent directly to our awards team >
- By sending a 300 word nomination, along with the name of the team or individual, their job title and where they work, to: uhdb.employeeawards@nhs.net