‘An inspirational leader’ - Sarah Hopkins scoops Leading the Way Award

The Leading the Way Award highlights those colleagues who lead by example, regardless of their role, and continuously work to enhance our services. Ward 21 Manager Sarah Hopkins was praised for encouraging the development and progression of staff on her ward.

Her nomination read:

“Sarah encourages development and progression of staff to succeed to their highest ability. She respects her colleagues’ wishes to learn more and offers time and assistance to ensure staff meet their goals.

She works tirelessly to ensure her ward delivers the highest standard of care to its patients and is always thinking of new ways to constantly improve the patient journey.

Sarah took on extra challenges by also becoming the interim ward manager for the Critical Care Unit (CCU). Here she has built the team up in confidence, forming close relationships with colleagues and pushing the team to achieve their first-ever silver ward accreditation.

She has overseen the building of a new relatives’ room for CCU patients/relatives - a quiet, personal space for families to wait and in those difficult times of breaking bad news.

She is an inspirational leader who myself and many others look up to. Sarah has achieved so much in a short space of time and there is much more to come from her.”

Collecting her award, Sarah said:

“Thank you. I never win anything! I love my cardiology team and acute medicine. I would like to say a special thank you to Kim, who is my wing woman on the ward and gets me through every shift, and my amazing Ward Manager, Lisa, who’s an inspiration, and my two kids and partner who have to put up with my crazy ideas.”

A huge ‘Well done!’ to Rheumatology Consultant Dr Timothy Blake and the Anaesthetic EPR team who were also shortlisted.