Every day, across our hospital, extraordinary people go above and beyond – not for recognition, but because they care. The You Made a Difference Awards shine a light on those moments of compassion, courage and commitment that truly change lives.
This month, we’re proud to share three remarkable stories:
- Abbie Davis, Navigator and Admin Lead, Community Diagnostic Centres
- Jiby Joseph, Domestic Assistant, Medirest
- Cambridge Maternal Medicine Centre
You Made a Difference – Winner: Abbie Davis, Navigator and Admin Lead, Community Diagnostic Centres
When the Wisbech Community Diagnostic Centre opened its doors in September 2023, it marked a major step forward in bringing MRI and CT services closer to the local community. Just one month earlier, Abbie Davis had stepped into the brand-new role of Lead Administrator and Patient Navigator. Little did she know how vital she would become.
Abbie has a fabulous can do attitude to any task.
Bruce Anderson
Launching a new service is never smooth, and Wisbech was no exception. The administrative team suddenly found themselves unable to access CUH’s fixed IT network – meaning they couldn’t book a single appointment. Instead of accepting the setback, Abbie sprang into action. She worked with IT and Facilities to secure access via laptops and even a temporary mobile Wi‑Fi network, keeping the service moving when it could easily have stalled.
She made sure her team felt supported during their early training, travelling back and forth to Cambridge, and was always exactly where they needed her. Calm, present and endlessly encouraging.
When the time came to set up a brand-new admin team in Ely, Abbie once again became the linchpin. Each diagnostic service opened rapidly to give patients quicker access to care, but that meant the bookings team came under pressure from day one.
Abbie’s support and direction has been key to getting this team established and performing.
Her team is unlike any other, they handle reception and bookings for eight different diagnostic services, each with its own processes and complexities. To help them succeed, Abbie went far beyond what anyone expected. She created detailed written guides for every service and even filmed herself completing bookings in EPIC, giving colleagues clear, practical support no matter how they learn best.
Always positive, always determined, Abbie made sure nobody felt lost in the whirlwind of two new centres opening so quickly.
Colleagues describe the sheer scale of the project: two new centres, multiple diagnostics, and a huge amount of work delivered at pace. Yet Abbie took it all in her stride. She mastered complex booking pathways, ensured essential eHospital builds were ready, recruited a new team and helped prepare for her own maternity cover.
“Abbie consistently goes above and beyond to make things happen and is a pleasure to work with.
Her hard work and leadership have been central to the successful launch of the Community Diagnostic Centres in Wisbech and Ely. Thanks to Abbie, patients across the region are now accessing vital diagnostic tests more quickly and easily.
Abbie’s colleagues say she brings energy, clarity and warmth to every challenge. She doesn’t just get things done – she lifts the people around her while she does it.
Congratulations, Abbie. You truly made a difference.
You Made a Difference – Winner: Jiby Joseph, Domestic Assistant, Medirest
When Jiby Joseph joined the team two years ago, he quickly became someone everyone relied on. Quietly dedicated, always helpful and unfailingly kind, he has earned deep respect from staff on D7, the Medirest management team, and his colleagues.
He is a valued member of staff, works extremely hard and is very caring and helpful at all times.
Julie Hilsden
Jiby’s role may not be clinical, but the impact he has on patient safety and wellbeing is extraordinary. His care goes far beyond keeping the ward clean, he looks after people.
As a permanent member of the ward team, Jiby knows many of the long‑term patients by name. He spots when something isn’t right, and he acts without hesitation.
One colleague shared how Jiby noticed a long‑term patient walking to the bathroom without their mobility frame — a moment that could have resulted in a serious fall. Without delay, Jiby alerted the nurse in charge, preventing what might have been a frightening incident.
One of his most admirable qualities is his genuine concern for our patients.
More recently, while cleaning the bathrooms, Jiby found one of the more independent patients suddenly breathless and unable to call for help. Having just come off oxygen, the situation could have become dangerous very quickly. Jiby immediately sought the nearest nurse, allowing the team to step in and safely return the patient to bed.
His quick thinking made all the difference.
Jiby’s colleagues say his actions go far beyond what is expected. He quietly embodies compassion — noticing, caring, stepping in. He treats every patient with dignity, kindness and respect, and the ward feels safer because he is there.
Jiby’s timely responses and compassion make a real difference.
Jiby doesn’t seek praise, yet those around him see the difference he makes every day. His vigilance, kindness and commitment to patient safety are exactly what the You Made a Difference award is all about.
“We offer our heartfelt appreciation to Jiby for his kindness, vigilance and commitment to patient safety.”
Congratulations, Jiby. Thank you for everything you do.
You Made a Difference – Team Winner: Cambridge Maternal Medicine Centre
When an extremely high‑risk pregnant woman was admitted to Royal Papworth Hospital late one evening, no one knew just how quickly events would unfold. Within hours, the patient had gone into labour and needed an urgent caesarean section in Papworth theatres — a complex procedure requiring a team with exceptional expertise and calm under pressure.
That team came from the Cambridge Maternal Medicine Centre: Dr Hannah Missfelder Lobos, Mrs Charlotte Patient and Dr Catherine Aiken — three clinicians whose dedication and skill have shaped maternity care at CUH for decades.
They have outstanding skills and are an asset to the department.
Dr Rachel Barratt
Hannah has worked at the Rosie Hospital for 20 years, with 18 of those as a consultant. Her leadership during the covid‑19 pandemic, her work building global partnerships in El Salvador, and her unwavering commitment to fetal medicine have made her a cornerstone of the service. On the night of this emergency, she was the consultant on call, calmly ensuring the Rosie continued to run smoothly while the complex case was managed at Papworth.
Charlotte’s contribution to the Trust spans more than three decades. Having trained and worked at the Rosie for 32 years, she has led education across the East of England and built international links with teams in Uganda and Kenya. As Lead for the Maternal Medicine Hub, she coordinates care for women with complex medical needs across the region.
Catherine has spent 16 years at the Rosie, completing her specialist training and driving research that now shapes national and international maternal‑fetal medicine practice. As a Professor at the University of Cambridge, she brings both clinical excellence and academic vision to the team.
They are excellent clinicians and team workers.
Despite the Rosie being extremely busy, everyone — across both CUH and Papworth — pulled together. Additional staff travelled in from home in their own time. Coordinators from NICU and the Delivery Unit juggled their own workloads while making sure support was available. The Papworth scrub team stepped in to assist with the caesarean section when the Rosie theatres could not spare a full team.
Within two hours of the first concerns being raised, seven consultants were in theatre.
Everybody just made it happen.
The baby was delivered safely and transferred to the Rosie. Mum was moved to ITU at Papworth for ongoing care. What could have been a frightening and unpredictable situation became a story of extraordinary teamwork, professional excellence and unwavering compassion.
To put a team together to manage this in such a short space of time was an amazing effort.
The Cambridge Maternal Medicine Centre embodies everything the You Made a Difference award celebrates. Their experience, calm leadership and commitment to safe, compassionate care made an impossible situation possible.