A Royal Stoke University Hospital consultant has received national recognition for work helping to deliver potentially life-saving treatment to major stroke patients.
Dr Sanjeev Nayak, a consultant interventional neuroradiologist at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), has been named Clinician of the Year at the National B.A.M.E Health & Care Awards.
The award recognises Dr Nayak’s contribution to Royal Stoke’s Stroke Thrombectomy Service, which provides emergency treatment for patients who have suffered certain types of severe stroke.
A service available around the clock
Royal Stoke was one of the first hospitals in the UK to establish a dedicated 24-hour, seven-day-a-week stroke thrombectomy service. This means eligible patients across Staffordshire and beyond can access specialist treatment at any time of day or night.
A mechanical thrombectomy is a highly specialised procedure used in some strokes caused by a blood clot blocking a major vessel in the brain. A specialist inserts and guides equipment through the blood vessels to remove the clot and restore blood flow. Speed is crucial because brain tissue can be damaged rapidly during a stroke.
UHNM says more than 250 patients benefited from mechanical thrombectomy at the trust last year—one of the highest treatment rates in the country. Nationally, around 10 per cent of stroke patients are eligible for thrombectomy; at UHNM, approximately 15 per cent receive the treatment.
Recognition for the whole team
Dr Nayak described receiving the award as a deep honour but emphasised that the achievement reflects the work of the wider hospital team and the trust placed in them by patients.
The Clinician of the Year category celebrates outstanding clinical practice and patient outcomes. For Stoke-on-Trent, the award is another reminder that nationally recognised medical expertise is being delivered here in the city.
Stroke care involves far more than one clinician. Emergency teams, radiographers, nurses, anaesthetists, neurologists, rehabilitation specialists and many others must work together quickly and precisely. The award therefore shines a light on a service built around teamwork as much as individual skill.
Technology helping clinicians save time
The Royal Stoke service has also pioneered the use of artificial intelligence to help clinicians assess brain scans, identify blood clots and speed up access to treatment.
In stroke care, saving time can mean saving brain function. Technology does not replace the judgement of experienced medical teams, but it can help information reach specialists more quickly and support faster decisions when every minute matters.
The thrombectomy and interventional neuroradiology teams have already received national recognition for this work. In 2025, they won all three categories in which they were shortlisted at the HSJ Digital Awards, with judges highlighting their innovative use of artificial intelligence to improve patient outcomes.
A Stoke-on-Trent success worth celebrating
Hospital news is often dominated by pressure, waiting times and difficult experiences. Those issues matter, but so do the achievements of NHS staff who continue to improve care and give patients better chances of recovery.
Dr Nayak said the award was a proud moment and an inspiration to continue advancing standards of patient care.
This is a positive story for Royal Stoke, UHNM and the whole area: specialist care developed locally is being recognised nationally, while hundreds of patients are benefiting from a service available every hour of every day.
Have you or someone you know received excellent care from the stroke team or another department at Royal Stoke? Share your thanks in the comments—but please protect patients’ privacy and avoid posting confidential medical details.
Source and image: University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust.
