The shining stars of Ipswich Hospital’s dedicated team were celebrated for going above and beyond their role.

At a glittering night at Trinity Park on Friday, hundreds of staff and volunteers from Heath Road joined health chiefs, MP Ben Gummer and special guests to honour award-winners across nine categories.

To kick start the awards, the Ipswich Hospital Community Choir performed three songs and received rapturous applause.

Ann Tate, chairwoman of the Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, told the audience: “We have experienced some changes, some external and some internal, and we have had to change as an organisation in response to the changes happening outside of us.

“They have been disruptive, and I appreciate for many of you that they have had a profound effect on your lives.

“The board believes we are seeing some really positive outcomes and the staff are responsible for every success of the hospital. The staff are collectively essential for continually improved, high-quality, compassionate care for out patients every day.”

Chief executive Nick Hulme, who hosted the ceremony, added: “Every day 3,000 people come to Ipswich Hospital and rely on us to make their lives that bit better. They come to us in pain, scared and lonely and each one of you makes a difference to their lives.

“Every single person has the opportunity to improve 3,000 lives every day and what a fantastic privilege and you are an exemplar of those people who work every day, every night and every weekend.

“People at the beginning of their lives from celebrating birth to supporting people at the end of their lives to make their passing as peaceful and pain free as it can be.”

Taking the first honour of the night, in the Living the Values category, was doctor in training Nicola Hemmingway who was recognised by members of a patient’s family for her “sympathetic and compassionate” manner when their mother died.

In the Support Colleague of the Year category, Ian Olding was handed the gong for his telephone manner as receptionist on Martlesham Ward.

Taking the title of Trainee Doctor of the Year, Ryan Wood was singled out for being a team player and person of integrity in trauma and orthopaedics.

Woodbridge Ward sister Renee Ward was named winner in the Clinician of the Year award for being an inspirational leader.

Innovator of the Year went to plaster technician Donna Barter for the changes she has made in the working practises of the plaster room while Sheila Garwood picked up Volunteer of the Year for her work in the pharmacy.

Jo Wood picked up the Emerging Leader award for her role as head of organisational development while the Leadership Award gong went to head of midwifery Emma Hardwick.

In the final award of the night, the Team of the Year, the prize was shared between Woodbridge Ward and the Specialist Oncology Breast Care Team.

Ipswich MP Ben Gummer said: “A couple of weeks ago I wrote a letter to Nick Hulme on behalf of a constituent and it was a complaint – it does happen and these things do occur. I got a letter back which said ‘I’m sorry, we got this wrong. This is how we will put it right’.

“That was the first time I had got a letter like that. There are hospitals which are incapable of saying those things and the reason Ipswich can is because you have the confidence that the majority of the care you provide is exceptional.

“The care with which people in Ipswich and Suffolk feel about you is unbelievable and it does make you pretty unique in this amazing organisation which is the NHS.

“I want to convey the real love and care that people have for you for the love and care you give them.”