A heart doctor at Basildon University Hospital has scooped NHS Emerging Leader of the Year at the East of England leadership awards.

Dr Pat Phen was recognised for his leadership skills with doctors and nurses in improving services for patients.

He was presented with his award by last year’s winner, Claire Kent, Deputy Chief Nurse, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

He won the award after making changes to doctors’ rotas in the heart ward and also after setting up a new nurse specialist-led clinic at Basildon Hospital for patients who experience transient blackouts.

Dr Phen said: “People can be scared of making changes because they fear that if a bad decision is taken it won’t be reversed. As clinicians, we all do our very best for individual patients every day, but we also have to think how the system can best serve patients to make real progress."

"We were clear that change had to occur to improve patient care, but we undertook to ensure the new system worked to meet both patients’ care needs and doctors’ training needs.”

Patients have provided very positive feedback from the ward since the rotas were changed.