Staff celebrate excellence with the Learning Disability and Autism Champions Awards 2025
Every year University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) host the Learning Disability and Autism Awards to celebrate staff who go above and beyond in their every day clinical practice to support people with learning disabilities or who are autistic.
The awards are designed to celebrate staff and teams who have committed to make four or more reasonable adjustments to their departments or wards to help improve the patient journey, especially for patients with a learning disability, difficulty or who are autistic.
The event was well attended with both UHP staff and members of the Derriford User Group, who work really hard as advisors to the Trust on all aspects of accessibility.
This year’s awards were presented to:
- Geraldine Bangit, Steve Jenkins and Susana Lopes – Sharp ward
- Shelagh Mullarkey – MRI appointments
- Zakk Sharp - Dietician
- Michelle Thomas – Cystic Fibrosis Specialist Physio
- Georgina May – Operating Department Practitioner
- James Gulliver – Gastro consultant
- Ally Guest – Same Day Emergency Care, Healthcare Assistant
- Jonathon Manley – Urology consultant
- Nigel Booth and Allina Keeler for the Cumberland Urgent Treatment Centre
Saoirse Read, Learning Disability and Autism Consultant Nurse said: “We really look forward to these awards, and I am so incredibly proud of staff who put so much effort in going above and beyond for our patients. Simple adjustments can make such a difference to a patient’s experience, making them feel safe and well when they come in for appointments”.
Liz Cox, Deputy Chief Nurse said: "today is a really important day to celebrate our staff who do a fantastic job welcoming our communities with a learning disability or a learning difficulty into our organisation. We want to thank our wonderful staff, departments and wards in making reasonable adjustments for people accessing our services, and enabling them to feel safe and well whilst they do so”.
I also want to thank our Derriford User Group members, who are members of our community who help us shape services, advise and work alongside us and we couldn't do the job we do without them”.
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