Our achievements

Posted on 19 May 2025

We are proud to share that Nottinghamshire Healthcare colleagues have been named as finalists in four categories of the Palliative and End of Life Care Awards.

The awards recognise and celebrate excellence in palliative and end of life care.

Jill Allsop and Lucy Morley, community staff nurses have been shortlisted in the Excellence in Palliative Care Nursing Award category. The Newark and Sherwood Community Specialist Palliative Care (SPC) Team is shortlisted in the Integrated Care Systems Award category. Dr Alpna Chauhan, Specialist Palliative Care Consultant has been shortlisted in the Lifetime Achievement to Excellence in Palliative Care Award.

Jill is an experienced staff nurse who works tirelessly to support our palliative and end-of-life patients, making their priorities her priorities and ensuring that their experience at end of life is a positive one. Jill will always advocate for her palliative patients and will often stay late to ensure their needs are met and they have the services in place that they require. Jill is kind, caring and compassionate and builds meaningful relationships with patients, relatives, and carers to ensure that communication is effective and that everyone involved in the patient's care feels supported, informed, and respected. Jill's presence brings comfort and reassurance during some of life's most difficult times. 

(Jill)

Lucy consistently provides outstanding care for palliative patients within our community. She consistently receives positive feedback from families, some referring to her as 'an angel', and describe the care she delivers to be kind, compassionate, caring, and that they are forever grateful for her care and support in their time of need. Lucy always goes above and beyond, and when visiting patients, she provides detailed and proactive care and considers every aspect of care they may be needed for each visit. She is very knowledgeable, responsive and our patients are very lucky to have a nurse like Lucy caring for them. 

(Lucy)

Dr Alpna Chauhan, Specialist Palliative Care Consultant exemplifies excellence in palliative and end-of-life care, making a profound impact over her 20+ years of dedicated service. As a Consultant in Palliative Medicine at John Eastwood Hospice and leader of the specialist palliative care team in Newark and Sherwood, her expertise, compassion, and commitment have revolutionised patient care.

Dr Chauhan is renowned for her unwavering kindness, patience, and responsiveness to patients and their loved ones. She ensures that every individual, whether at the end of life or supporting a loved one, has the time to ask questions and receive thoughtful, personalised advice. Her holistic approach fosters dignity and comfort during the most challenging times.

Beyond clinical excellence, Dr Chauhan has played a pivotal role in advancing palliative care education. She has tirelessly worked to upskill primary and secondary care professionals in this complex field, ensuring that high standards of care are upheld across the region. Dr Chauhan's contributions to research and innovation further highlight her exceptional career.  As the former Research Lead at John Eastwood Hospice, she established a department that has contributed to national studies, enhancing evidence-based practices in palliative care.

Her dedication has transformed patient experiences, strengthened multidisciplinary teams, and elevated the standard of palliative care across Nottinghamshire. Dr Chauhan embodies the values of this award through her enduring commitment to improving lives and inspiring others in this vital area of medicine.. 

(Dr Alpna Chauhan)

The Newark and Sherwood Community Specialist Palliative Care (SPC) team are a shining example of outstanding teamwork in supporting individuals at the end of life. This team provides exceptional care to patients with complex needs across diverse settings, including homes, care facilities, and the local hospice. In the past year alone, the team received 727 new referrals within their community service, contributing to a total of 1,886 referrals across the broader SPC service. Their weekly multidisciplinary meetings at Newark Health Centre foster collaboration with community nurses, GPs, and other healthcare professionals, ensuring continuity of care and tailored support for each patient. The team excels in addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs through holistic approaches such as bereavement care and staff supervision. They also prioritise education by welcoming medical students and trainee doctors to observe their practices. Their collaborative relationships extend to local GPs, district nurses, Newark Hospital, community pharmacies, and regional palliative care services in Mansfield, Nottingham, Lincoln, and Derby.

(Newark and Sherwood Community Specialist Palliative Care (SPC) team)

Feedback from service users highlights the profound impact of their work. One bereaved relative shared: You were the thread that kept everything together throughout our journey... making a very difficult situation seem more bearable. Another expressed gratitude for their attentiveness and kindness: Thank you for being diligent, attentive, and going above and beyond. You are touched with fairy dust. 

The team's dedication to dignity and person-centred care transforms the experience of end-of-life care for patients and families alike. Their ability to navigate complex needs while providing compassionate support makes them truly deserving of this recognition.

Amy Eagle, Care Group Director of Community Health and Specialist Services at Nottinghamshire Healthcare said: Huge congratulations to all our colleagues shortlisted in these awards. They are all dedicated to delivering compassionate care, and ensuring our palliative and end of life patients, and their families, receive the care and support they need during such a difficult time. Wishing them all the best of luck for the ceremony. 

The Awards will take place on 27 June 2025, when the winners will be announced.