Two of a kind! Sheffield Children’s Rheumatology service celebrates outstanding care with double award win

We were seeing double at this year’s National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) Healthcare Champions Awards! 

The awards recognise individual healthcare professionals and their teams who have gone the extra mile to provide outstanding care for children and young people. Nominations for the awards come from families, and the final judging was led by experts in rheumatology, senior clinicians and patient representatives. 

Sheffield Children’s came away from the event with two prizes, a team award win for the Rheumatology team, and an individual win for Consultant Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatologist Dr Dan Hawley. 

Dr Hawley said: “I feel so privileged to work with a multidisciplinary and multiprofessional team who put patient care at the centre of all we do. Being able to play a small part in enabling young people to flourish, and achieve the amazing things they do, is fantastic!”  

Working as part of a team 

Sheffield Children’s is an established tertiary centre for specialist Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology services, covering South Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and Goole. The rheumatology team at Sheffield Children’s Hospital offers diagnosis and treatment to children and young people from Sheffield and across the UK with a wide range of rheumatic conditions – which are characterised by inflammation which is not caused by an infection. This can affect every part of the body, including the joints, where it is known as arthritis, and eyes, where it is known as uveitis.  They deliver outstanding care for patients and families that they see and support them when moving into adult rheumatology at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.  

After hearing about their nomination in June of this year, Dan alongside Consultants Sarah Maltby and Anne-Marie McMahon, Occupational Therapist Catherine Dunbar, Physiotherapist Leah Kenny, Advanced Nurse Practitioner Helen Lee, and Rheumatology Coordinator Katie Smith, all travelled for the awards and celebrated their success together. 

Dr Hawley said: “Working at Sheffield Children’s is a great privilege! There are so many dedicated people and teams, with similar aspirations to provide the very best patient care. Working with such a broad team of specialists is inspirational and keeps me learning every day I come to work!” 

The family who nominated the team were also able to share in the celebrations. They said: “The whole team have been amazing since Hollie was diagnosed 5 years ago. Both Hollie and I couldn’t have done this journey so far without them by our sides.” 

“No matter what, they are there with help and guidance, and to help Hollie stay safe and well. Not only are they the medical team, but I see them as friends too. I couldn’t ask for a better team to be part of our lives. 

Dr Hawley’s award 

Dr Hawley also received an individual award for his dedication to delivering outstanding care for children and young people who visit us. 

A Consultant Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatologist at Sheffield Children’s for 15 years, Dr Hawley has seen the Rheumatology service at Sheffield Children’s grow from it’s very first moments in 2011. Now Lead for Research in the Rheumatology Service, Dan is excited for the future of care in rheumatology at Sheffield Children’s. 

His nominator said: “My son was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at ten years old. Prior to his diagnosis, he was an academy footballer and excelling in sport. Dr Hawley took time to learn about Evan and his hopes and dreams for the future, he understood how important sport was to Evan and wanted him to still have the opportunity to fulfil his dreams of being a footballer.  

“Dr Hawley devised a treatment plan that would give Evan the best opportunity. He gave us hope that Evan may be able to live without pain and would be able to walk normally again… he is now back to academy football, playing two years above his own age group. The care he receives is first class and it is an utter privilege to be treated by Dr Hawley.” 

Sheffield Children’s turns 150 years old this November, and we’re proud of the work that teams across our history have done to further our aim of creating a healthier future for children and young people. Throughout these years, teams at Sheffield Children’s have helped shape new ways to diagnose, treat and care for children and young people. The Rheumatology service continues to lead the way in improving the quality of care we offer at Sheffield Children’s, developing novel treatments to offer additional support for the children and young people that they see. 

Congratulations to Dr Hawley and our amazing rheumatology service – your commitment to delivering safe, kind and outstanding care for children and young people who come through the doors at Sheffield Children’s is something that we can all celebrate!