Staff at the Royal Free Hospital helped lead nurse Samantha Swinglehurst celebrate her MBE at a surprise party organised by her colleagues. 

David Sloman, the chief executive, and Dominic Dodd, the chairman of the trust congratulated Samantha on her award at the event, organised by staff in the child and adolescent mental health team.

Samantha, who has worked at the trust for 11 years and was instrumental in setting up the child and adolescent eating disorders service four years ago, was announced as an MBE in the New Year’s honours.

Dr Mark Berelowitz, who leads the service, said: “Sam always comes in to work, asking ‘what can I do for patients and for my colleagues, and not what can the Royal Free do for me?’ It’s a wonderful quality to have and patients recognise this in her. I want to say congratulations to her and her team.”

David Sloman added: “You hear so many wonderful things about Sam and about this team – that she is a problem-solver, she uses her skills to improve the service, she is a very supportive colleague, she puts the needs of her patients first.

“Sam is the life and soul of this team and part of the life blood of this organisation, so congratulations to her and to everyone in the team.”

Samantha said: “I couldn’t have done this without the team – everyone I work with has been chosen for their amazing talents, this is a huge honour and I am really proud to work with you all.”

The Royal Free London’s child and adolescent eating disorders intensive service aims to prevent young people with the distressing and life-threatening eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, from having to stay in hospital for many months.

All the research  suggests that residential in-patient eating disorder units do not lead to better outcomes than community treatment, have high rates of relapse and re-admission, and mean that young people are away from their family, friends and school for a long time.

The service ensures that more than 200 young patients a year are offered an individually-tailored treatment plan, delivered by a multi-disciplinary team including therapists, specialist nurses, consultant psychiatrists and paediatricians, who work with both the patients and their families to achieve the best outcomes.

Ends

Image: Samantha Swinglehurst at her party

Notes to editors

Media contacts: mary.mcconnell2@nhs.net or call 020 7472 6665

About the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

The Royal Free began as a pioneering organisation and continues to play a leading role in the care of patients. Our mission is to provide world class expertise and local care. In the 21st century, the Royal Free London continues to lead improvements in healthcare.

The Royal Free London attracts patients from across the country and beyond to its specialist services in liver and kidney transplantation, haemophilia, renal care, HIV, infectious diseases, plastic surgery, immunology, Parkinson's disease, vascular surgery, cardiology, amyloidosis and scleroderma and we are a member of the academic health science partnership UCLPartners.

In July 2014 Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital became part of the Royal Free London. Read 'A bigger trust, a better future'.