Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

More than 200 excited attendees from across the trust’s geographical spread gathered at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford to find out who would be victorious in 11 categories – each recognising exceptional teams and individuals.

Staff and volunteers who had been shortlisted were joined by friends, family, senior trust executives and some of the Exceptional People Award winners – who are commended for their service throughout the year – at the special ceremony on December 3.

Trust chief executive Stuart Bell CBE told the audience the fifth awards would be his last as he is to retire in 2020 after 37 years’ service in the NHS – with more than seven of them leading Oxford Health.

He said: “This event is one of the favourite things that I do in the trust, and so it’s a very special evening for me.

“Our vision for Oxford Health is outstanding care provided by outstanding people. This evening proves that this vision is not just talk, it’s realising it. The reason you are all here tonight is because of the outstanding things you are doing, day in and day out, and you are all outstanding people.

“I think tonight is one of those things that just reminds us – in the midst of all events going on in the wider world – just how special the NHS is; how special what the NHS does is and how special the people who work in it really are – and that’s you.

“We’ve had a huge number of nominations this year and for anyone to have got here at all this evening is pretty remarkable.”

Trust chair David Walker paid tribute to Stuart’s ‘calm authority’ and told the audience: “You do great things and the CQC’s latest verdict, I hope, will put wind in our sails to further travel towards that goal of outstanding.”