Recognition awards for outstanding care announced

Written by Sam Wilson, November 18, 2024

Three outstanding bleeding disorders specialists nominated by our members were honoured at our Big Get-Together (BGT) conference in Leicester.

At the suggestion of our Youth Ambassadors, we launched our Recognition Awards earlier this year. We asked you to tell us about someone in haemophilia and bleeding disorders care who deserves special recognition, and we received many inspiring responses.

The judges had a really difficult job narrowing down the winners. Thank you to everyone who nominated their clinician, we were so impressed to read about the many amazing people who work in bleeding disorders’ care and the impact they have on your lives.

Sadly, there could only be three winners, and they were announced at our conference in Leicester on 16 November.

Our Nurse of the Year is Alison Dawson-Meadows, Clinical Nurse Specialist at Lincoln County Hospital. Alison’s nominees told us she is someone who goes far beyond the call of duty to support her patients, checking in on them on days off and going the extra mile to ensure they have excellent care.

One nominee said: ‘For me, Alison exemplifies everything that is good about nursing.  It is clear that the team are under-resourced but this does not prevent Alison from trying to ensure her patients receive the best care possible.’

Alison attended BGT to collect her award and told the audience it was a privilege to do her job, but as a nurse always felt she ‘should be doing more’ for her patients. She is pictured with our President, Clive Smith, left, and our Chair, Conan McIlwrath.

Our Physiotherapist of the Year is Stephanie Taylor, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Haemophilia and Allied Bleeding Disorders, Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre.

Stephanie has worked at the Oxford centre for 14 years, building lasting relationships with her patients. She was praised for her dedication and hard work.

One nominee said she had helped him enjoy his life again. He added: ‘She continues to trailblaze new methods and ideas to re-enable patients to get their target joints in a position where what seems an impossibility becomes possible again.’

Stephanie was unable to join us at BGT but sent us a warm message, praising all her fellow physios in bleeding disorder care and thanking her patients for their support.

Finally, our Doctor of the Year is Dr Gordon Taylor, Consultant Paediatric Haematologist at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.

Dr Taylor is described by his nominees as someone who could ‘make things happen’, who made his young patients seem like they were the most important people in the world, and who felt like they were in ‘a protective bubble’ under his care.

One nominee said: ‘Dr Taylor has made me able to manage and accept my condition and prepared me for transitioning to adult services. I am better equipped for dealing with my condition now and managing it myself going forward.’

We are sorry Dr Taylor was unable to join us at BGT. We send him our sincere congratulations.