Three senior leaders from our maternity service have been recognised with the prestigious Cavell Star Award, celebrating their exceptional leadership, compassion and dedication during a prolonged period of significant staffing challenges.
Alice, Sam and Claire received the award in recognition of the outstanding support they provided to colleagues while helping to maintain safe, high-quality care for women, babies and families across our trust during a particularly demanding time.
Faced with workforce shortages and increased operational pressures, they provided visible, calm and compassionate leadership, offering stability and reassurance to teams navigating sustained challenges. Their unwavering commitment ensured colleagues felt supported, valued and heard, while continuing to deliver excellent care to the communities we serve.
Hannah Horne, Director of Midwifery and Maternity Services, said:
“What makes their contribution particularly remarkable is the personal commitment each demonstrated throughout this period. Taking on additional responsibilities, covering staffing gaps and working under sustained pressure, they consistently placed the needs of colleagues, women and families at the heart of every decision they made.
“Their leadership helped steer the service through an incredibly challenging time and created a culture of support, trust and compassion that continues to be felt today. Through their dedication, professionalism and unwavering commitment to others, Alice, Sam and Claire exemplified our trust values and made a meaningful and lasting difference to colleagues, patients and families alike. Huge congratulations to all three on this thoroughly deserved recognition.”
Working across a busy multi-site service supporting almost 3,000 births each year, Alice, Sam and Claire led and supported more than 150 colleagues. Their commitment to being visible, listening to concerns and responding with empathy helped maintain morale and foster a strong sense of teamwork during a period when staffing pressures placed considerable demands on the service.
Throughout, they remained focused on what mattered most: providing safe, compassionate care while safeguarding the wellbeing of their teams. Colleagues consistently describe them as approachable, supportive and inspiring leaders who led by example, advocated for their teams and brought people together when it mattered most.
The Cavell Star Award is a fitting recognition of the difference they have made. Through their resilience, kindness and exceptional leadership, Alice, Sam and Claire have left a lasting impact on colleagues, women, babies and families, and have demonstrated the very best of our trust values in action.