Dental team receives recognition for patient care

The Community Dental Services CIC (CDS) Nottinghamshire General Anaesthetic (GA) team has been awarded a Values in Practice (VIP) Award at Queens Medical Centre.

Selected from more than 200 patient nominations, Angharad Hughes, specialist in special care dentistry, Isla Crighton, Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) anaesthetist, and the GA team received the recognition for their commitment to providing outstanding care during a complex medical procedure.

In January 2025, the team carried out a procedure which required both dental treatment under GA and an MRI. The process of coordinating such a procedure involved multiple departments and required careful planning to ensure the patient was moved safely between hospital locations whilst under anaesthesia.

The parents felt that the team excellently accommodated their daughter’s complex needs and ensured their daughter received the necessary care with compassion, professionalism, expertise, and ‘outside of the box thinking’. The nomination highlighted how each team member played a crucial role in providing the best care possible for their daughter.

The patients’ parents commented, “The team did all that they could to accommodate our daughter's extremely complex needs within the procedures…the whole experience was the most straightforward that we have yet had. Angharad’s reassuring manner helped both us and our daughter and she took the time to discuss things post-operatively with us in recovery, something which we found extremely helpful.”

Nicola Milner, chief operating officer, said, “This award truly reflects the dedication and professionalism shown by Angharad, our NUH colleague Isla, and the entire GA team. They consistently go above and beyond to ensure the safety and comfort of every patient, especially those with complex needs, and it is heartening to see their efforts so positively acknowledged by the families we serve."

Angharad Hughes, specialist in special care dentistry (centre right), Isla Crighton Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) anaesthetist, (centre left), and the CDS Nottinghamshire GA team.

Angharad Hughes, specialist in special care dentistry (centre right), Isla Crighton Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) anaesthetist, (centre left), and the CDS Nottinghamshire GA team.

The VIP Award recognises individuals who exemplify the highest standards of care, respect, and compassion. The values the GA team were nominated for were: