Royal Surrey celebrates exceptional staff at 2025 Stars awards | News
Royal Surrey celebrates exceptional staff at 2025 Stars awards
Cheers and applause were echoing around Guildford’s Harbour Hotel last Friday (21 November) as Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust announced the winners of this year’s Royal Surrey Stars staff awards.
Guests at the ceremony included the finalists from15 award categories who were nominated by their Royal Surrey colleagues or by our patients and their families.
During the course of the evening, hosted by Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust’s Group Chief Executive Louise Stead and Chair Joss Bigmore, presenters for each award shared why each of the finalists had been nominated. Joss said:
“It was a wonderful night and a great opportunity to celebrate all our finalists and winners. They’ve done an amazing job in all their different roles this year and we are truly grateful for all their exceptional work. In such a busy organisation, the event gives us a chance to reflect on their incredible achievements and say thank you! Well done to all involved!”
This year, the trust received a record number of 828 nominations for the awards. Recurrent themes in the nominations were kindness, dedication, hard work and innovation. The finalists are those who’ve really shone in their role and made a significant difference to their teams and patients in their day-to-day work. You can read more about them and their inspirational initiatives on the Royal Surrey Stars website.
Patients’ Choice awards
The Patients' Choice awards are particularly meaningful as they are nominated by patients and their families, reflecting the direct gratitude of those who have received care at Royal Surrey. Well over a hundred nominations were received in these categories with heartfelt thanks expressed for the care experienced. This year there were two winners in each category.
Patients’ Choice Team winners:
- The Eashing Ward Team, specialists in older people’s care, were praised for their caring, compassionate and supportive approach, along with their “nothing-is-too-much” attitude. Nominations reflected the team’s commitment to high-quality, patient-centred care and ensuring every individual feels well supported throughout their stay.
- The Oncology Research Team, who help cancer patients to access life-extending and potentially life-saving treatment. In their nomination, the patient described their standard of care as “amazing” and “the next step up” in terms of support. One patient said he "could not have been in better hands."
Patients’ Choice Individual winners:
- Healthcare assistant Cyril Kulathil who was awarded for his outstanding kindness, empathy, and professionalism. Patients spoke of the reassurance provided by his caring manner during very stressful times for families, as well as his ability to connect with confused or anxious patients.
- Consultant paediatrician Dr Ozan Hanci was praised for going the extra mile to make sure that children get the treatment they need. His nominations spoke of the life-changing difference he’s had on families, his caring manner and fast work to get to the bottom of problems so children can get on the road to recovery.
One last special award
There was also a special award presented on the night for Chief Nurse Jo Mountjoy. Jo is retiring after a 38-year career, more than 25 of which she’s spent at Royal Surrey. Honouring Jo’s remarkable career, Louise said:
“Her commitment to excellence, compassion in leadership, and unwavering dedication to patient safety have shaped the very fabric of nursing care at Royal Surrey.”
Sponsor thank you
The Royal Surrey Stars event is only possible thanks to the generosity of this year’s sponsors: headline sponsors Medirest and MTX, along with K2 Construction Management, Wavenet, Russell Cawberry Ltd, and Royal Surrey Charity – all valued partners who work with us in different ways. Thank you to them for their support
Royal Surrey Stars winners 2025
You can see the winners in every category below. Our final award for Volunteer of the Year will be announced at the dedicated Volunteers Christmas Dinner next Monday (1 December).
Congratulations to them all!
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Access and Medicine Champion Khelvin Jocson |
Adult Community Health Services Champion Dr Eleena Chaudhuri |
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Diagnositc and Clinical Support Services Champion IV Therapy/OPAT Team |
Oncology Champion Marika Conrad |
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Surgery Champion Maria Innes |
Women and Children Champion Chloe Bond |
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Corporate Services Champion Sarah King |
Leader/Mentor of the Year Binita Lawati |
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Innovation Impact Award sponsored by K2CM
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Patients' Choice Individual Award sponsored by Medirest
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Patients' Choice Team Award sponsored by MTX
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Charity Inspiration Award Caroline Mullins |
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Rising Star Dr Dev Thakker |
Non-Clinical Team of the Year Staff Health and Wellbeing Team |
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Clinical Team of the Year Harm Free Care Team |
Exceptional Service Award Jo Mountjoy |