Celebrating the best and brightest of Croydon’s NHS stars
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust came together on Thursday 14 November to honour the exceptional commitment, dedication and care demonstrated by its staff over the past year.
The 2024 Croydon Stars awards celebrated the healthcare professionals and colleagues working behind the scenes, who all play a vital role in delivering life changing and lifesaving care to patients across the borough.
The prestigious ‘Star of the Year’ award, sponsored by Unison, was awarded to to Acute Liaison and Paediatric Neurodisability Clinical Nurse Specialists, Claire Jewell and Melissa Clarke, recognising the outstanding impact that they had made on the lives of a local family, during a critical time in their child’s life.
Commenting on their win, Claire and Melissa said:
“We’d like to thank Karen and Dan for nominating us. It is a privilege to look after the children that we get to care for and we’re incredibly grateful that our work has been recognised.”
The evening featured 13 categories, highlighting the diverse contributions and achievements of Croydon’s NHS workers, with winners receiving awards in categories such as ‘Compassionate Care’, ‘Sustainability Champion’, a category sponsored by Wates Group, and ‘Star Behind the Scenes,’ sponsored by ISS.
Each category celebrated unique aspects of service and contributions that make a difference to the lives of patients and colleagues alike.
In addition to individual achievements, the evening recognised colleagues with over 30 and 40 years of service to the NHS, a testament to the dedication and commitment of Croydon's healthcare workforce.
Speaking at the awards, Matthew Kershaw, Chief Executive and Place-Based Leader for Health in Croydon, said:
“Each year, these awards not only acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our staff and the outpouring of gratitude from our patients, but also highlight the importance of collaboration with our health and care partners in delivering exceptional care to our local people.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work that our teams do to make a difference to the lives of the people who live, work and seek help in Croydon.”
Star of the Year - Claire Jewell and Melissa Clarke
Working in Partnership - Safeguarding Administration Team
Team of the Year - Virtual Ward In-reach Team
Sustainability Champion - Agnes Fong
Leading with Professionalism - Thulisile Khosa
Compassionate Care - Orla Simpson
Supporting our Staff - Andrew Widdowson
Star Behind the Scenes - Ewa Kweik
Safety and Quality Champion - Lauren Devaney
Rising Star - Michelle Alleyne
Respect and Inclusivity Champion - Bini Ajay
Giving Back Champion - Sajida Rashid
Lifetime Achievement - Bridget Macdonald
