A midwife whose quick thinking saved the life of a premature baby is just one of the people honoured at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) Recognition Awards 2024.
The awards, which took place at the Athena in Leicester on Friday 4 October, brought together 500 guests from across the Trust, with sponsors and community partners in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland, to celebrate the remarkable achievements and dedication of individuals and teams this year.
Midwife, Emma Robinson, won the award for Patient Choice after being nominated by a new mum for saving the life of her baby. Emma’s decisiveness helped identify that newborn baby, Maya-Jay, needed emergency treatment for what was later confirmed to be sepsis.
Maya-Jay was born four weeks prematurely via emergency caesarean section at Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI), weighing just 4lb 12oz. She initially seemed healthy, but when Emma noticed the baby’s colour had become ‘dusky’ she immediately alerted doctors.
Maya-Jay’s mum, Emily Wren, said: “I’m so unbelievably grateful for Emma, her fast reactions, and the care she provided at such speed for my daughter. It was Emma who very quickly noticed her colour. She raised the alarm and the doctors were there instantly to care for Maya-Jay. These incredible people suddenly sprang into action, all because Emma was there and acted so fast.”
Maya-Jay and her family stayed at the LRI for a week, under constant care from colleagues on Ward 5.
Emily added: “Maya-Jay is now 17 months old and thriving. She has grown from that little dot into a gorgeous little terror, but without Emma’s ability to provide the care that she did, I might not have her with me today. I am over the moon that Emma has won this award, as it is recognition that she deserves. She is my superwoman.”
The event, sponsored by Tilbury Douglas and Ergéa, recognised staff from across UHL in 15 categories for their outstanding contributions towards delivering high-quality patient care, innovating in research and education, making UHL a great place to work, , and going above and beyond in their day-to-day service.
Andrew Moore, UHL Chair, said: “Our awards are an incredibly special occasion where we come together to recognise and celebrate the dedication and outstanding contributions of our colleagues. Every nomination represents a positive impact that someone has made to the life of an individual, family or team member, and the judging panel had a very difficult job narrowing them down. Building a culture where everyone feels respected and valued was one of my priorities when taking up the role of chair at UHL, so I’m delighted to be able to recognise the efforts of so many colleagues tonight.”
Richard Mitchell, UHL Chief Executive, said: “These awards highlight the amazing work that colleagues do, whether working in frontline teams or behind the scenes – everyone can make an impact. This year we received the most nominations ever, which is testament to the achievements and exceptional dedication our colleagues show every day across our hospitals and the wider community, to support our patients and their families. It is important we recognise these achievements, and I am proud to work alongside such inspiring people.”
The UHL Recognition Awards are part of the Trust’s commitment to improve the way it recognises and celebrates all colleagues. This year, more than 700 nominations were received across 15 categories, representing the extraordinary talent, resilience, and innovation across the organisation. You can find the full list of winners and read about everyone who was shortlisted on the UHL website.
Richard Mitchell added: “The celebration would not have been possible without the generous support of our headline sponsors, Tilbury Douglas and Ergéa. They share our commitment to recognising the colleagues who make a difference to the lives of so many people in our communities and hospitals. Together, we will continue to celebrate the excellence across the NHS.”
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