The Eye Department at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) was honoured at the recent West Midlands Leadership Academy Recognition Awards for 2016/17 – picking up two major awards for outstanding leadership in healthcare.

The prestigious event at The Cube, Birmingham, recognises and celebrates the achievements of members of the NHS undertaking key NHS leadership roles.

UHB’s Ruchika Batra received the award for Trainee of the Year, recognising her outstanding commitment to delivering high-quality patient-centred care and her success in helping develop the clinical service, patient education and the ongoing research programme led by Consultant Eye Surgeon Miss Susan Mollan.

Professor Alastair Denniston was successful in securing the Emerging Leader award in recognition of his impact on research and clinical care in the Eye Department.

Professor Denniston is a specialist in inflammatory eye diseases, who has introduced a ‘culture of research’ to the department to help bring the latest technologies and treatments into routine practice.

Miss Mollan, who leads on education within the eye department and oversees a research programme tackling blinding diseases, said: “It is fantastic to see the hard work and inspiration of the whole ophthalmic team recognised in this way, with awards to individuals who represent both the trainees and more established members of the team.

"We have a dynamic department in which everybody – nurses, doctors and allied health professionals – are focused on providing excellent care to patients with eye problems. These high-profile awards recognise the quality of the team.”

Tim Jones, The Executive Director of Delivery at UHB, said: “Since Alastair’s appointment as a consultant he has delivered both a high quality clinical service and an innovative translationally focused research program.

“He has made a significant contribution, in collaboration with his colleagues, to the development of Ophthalmology research at UHB.

“He is a role model for aspiring clinical leaders of the future and critical to the future development of translational and precision medicine across the whole of the Trust for the benefit of patients both locally and nationally.”