UHNM consultant shortlisted for national Clinician of the Year award

A consultant interventional neuroradiologist at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has been shortlisted for a prestigious national healthcare award.

Dr Sanjeev Nayak has been shortlisted for Clinician of the Year at the 2026 National B.A.M.E Health & Care Awards.

Dr Nayak is part of UHNM's specialist stroke thrombectomy and interventional neuroradiology service, which provides life-changing treatment for patients experiencing severe stroke, as well as other complex neurological conditions.

Dr Nayak said: “It’s a real honour to be recognised.

“What makes this special is that it’s not just recognition for me, it’s recognition for the entire team. We love what we do and we’re all committed to providing the best possible treatment for our patients.

“Over many years we’ve developed a very strong service and we continue to improve and build on that. Awards like this show that the work being done here is being recognised not only within UHNM, but nationally as well.

“It’s a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in the service and the difference they make for patients every day.”
 
The Royal Stoke University Hospital was one of the first hospitals in the UK to establish a dedicated 24/7 stroke thrombectomy service, providing potentially life-saving treatment.
 
More than 250 patients benefited from a mechanical thrombectomy procedure at UHNM last year, one of the highest rates in the country. While around 10 per cent of stroke patients nationally are eligible for thrombectomy treatment UHNM treats around 15 per cent.
 
The service has also pioneered the use of artificial intelligence to help clinicians assess brain scans, identify clots and speed up access to treatment.

The nomination is the latest national recognition for UHNM’s stroke thrombectomy and interventional neuroradiology teams. In 2025, the teams won all three categories they were shortlisted for at the HSJ Digital Awards, with judges recognising their innovative use of artificial intelligence to improve outcomes for stroke patients. 

NHS England’s former Medical Director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis previously described the service as “the best service in the country”.

Winners of the National B.A.M.E Health & Care Awards will be announced later this year.