YOUR heroes from the world of medicine are today gearing up for a glittering awards evening.Ipswich Hospital is holding its Celebrating Our Stars Award Evening on Thursday, April 24, where its dedicated staff will be rewarded for their outstanding efforts on behalf of the people of Ipswich.

Rebecca Lefort

YOUR heroes from the world of medicine are today gearing up for a glittering awards evening.

Ipswich Hospital is holding its Celebrating Our Stars Award Evening on Thursday, April 24, where its dedicated staff will be rewarded for their outstanding efforts on behalf of the people of Ipswich.

And one lucky winner will be taking home The Evening Star Patients' Award.

The prize allows patients to nominate staff who have made a real difference to their experience in hospital.

One doctor up for the award is children's consultant Dr James Gould, who cared for young Casper-Sam Pooley when he was just three-weeks old.

In the nomination his family, mum Lisa Manning, dad Gavin Pooley, and sister Ellie-May, said: “No stone was left unturned in Dr Gould's treatment of our son.

“At all times we were kept fully up-to-date on all aspects of our son's care and what was being done to make him better.

“Dr Gould's manner is of such honesty and sincerity and he was fantastic. Luckily our son was absolutely fine but all angles were considered just in case.

“Dr Gould does a wonderful job for both children, patients and parents and without him our wonderful family may not be what it is today.

“We are entirely grateful and feel he deserves the award as he goes that extra step to restore people's faith in the NHS.”

Would you like to praise a hospital worker? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

PAULINE and Mike Girling, of Swan Lane, Westerfield, nominated oncology specialist nurse Helen Sewell for the Patients' Award.

Mrs Girling said: “Helen was instrumental in caring for my father Sidney Thrower when he was diagnosed with a bowel tumour in September 2005.

“For obvious reasons, at 83 years old, he was extremely concerned at the diagnosis.

“However, Helen spent an enormous amount of time talking with him as well as ourselves via the telephone and supplying literature which the oncology team had put together to help families in our situation.

“This outstanding care and understanding continued throughout the operation period and beyond.

“Over the following two years she met with him to check on his condition, always prepared to show great interest in him as a person, which did wonders for his self-confidence.

“In July last he had an unrelated medical problem and we desperately required some assistance. As Helen had said we could contact her at any time we telephoned her and within 15 minutes she provided the answer to the problem for which we were so very grateful.

“Sadly he died from an unrelated condition on Christmas Eve.

“Helen is a shining example of a professional and caring member of the hospital staff and we consider her worthy of recognition for her approach to, and caring for, patients and their families.”

JOHN and Iris Dyson, of Birch Drive, Brantham, nominated Dr Tim Podd, consultant at the oncology clinic for The Evening Star Patients' Award.

Mrs Dyson said: “It is now a year since my husband John was diagnosed with lung cancer and since the first visit to Dr Podd and all the further visits he has been so helpful and kind.

“Never too busy to answer any questions and he has really helped us to cope with things, and explain what ever lies ahead.

“With his help we are leading as normal life as possible so we would like to say a big thank you to him.”