24 March 2026

Colleagues and friends gathered for a heartfelt in-person event to celebrate the life and legacy of Jody Lombardini-Coleman, a much-loved nurse and former Head of Addictions at CNWL, who sadly passed away from COVID-19 nearly five years ago at the age of 43.

Jody’s husband and daughter were also in attendance, making the occasion particularly poignant as her family joined colleagues in honouring her life and work.

The inaugural Jody Lombardini-Coleman Addictions Innovation Nursing Award was created to recognise and honour the lasting impact Jody made through her compassion, dedication and commitment to improving care for service users.

Reflecting on her legacy, one colleague said:

“She always listened and she had so many amazing qualities, and led us through some difficult times. We want to continue on with her legacy, and celebrate all the qualities she had. She was passionate around service users getting the right care, at the right time.”

The award celebrates nurses who embody the values she demonstrated every day: compassion and advocacy, innovation in practice, leadership and teamwork, and a deep commitment to supporting both patients and colleagues.

Hosted by Ron Bevan, Addictions Lead Nurse, the event brought together staff from across services. The afternoon began with a welcome, networking and refreshments, followed by reflections and tributes from senior leaders including Service Director Teresa Wirz and Clinical Director of Addictions Dr Jeff Fehler.

James Smith, Director of Nursing for Diggory Division, said:

“Jody was an addictions nurse who really innovated and truly embodied what the awards are all about today. We bonded very quickly over our passion for nursing and innovation.”

Further contributions from colleagues, including Ben Parker and Dr Deepti Shah-Armon, highlighted Jody’s enduring influence and the respect she held across teams.

The award was formally introduced by Consultant Addictions Psychiatrist Dr Karim Dar, who also funded the initiative through a donation to the CNWL Health Charity in Jody’s memory. He said:

“I have met many outstanding people, but Jody stood out undoubtedly for all the right reasons that all of you have mentioned. There was one thing that was unique to Jody which transcended quite a lot of other people around her. She had courage — the courage to speak and advocate for our services. She had a fierceness, balanced by a great sense of fairness, a complete lack of bias, and an ability to nurture people.”

This year’s nominations reflected the strength, compassion and innovation within the nursing workforce. Colleagues from across services submitted thoughtful nominations, each telling powerful stories of nurses going above and beyond to support service users.

Two outstanding finalists were recognised 

Beth Crossland was commended for her work developing integrated physical health clinics, embedding Hepatitis C testing and treatment into routine care. Her innovative approach has improved engagement and outcomes, contributing to Hepatitis C micro-elimination within her service.

Shinu Thomas was recognised for her leadership in creating a structured induction programme for new staff, strengthening team development and improving workforce readiness.

The inaugural award winner

Muhammad Bhonoah, was described by colleagues as an “unsung hero” whose impact has been both significant and far-reaching.

“This nurse has consistently supported innovative clinical practice within the service and has played a pivotal role in strengthening key care pathways. Their work has helped sustain Hepatitis C micro-elimination and supported important service developments. They demonstrate calm, reliable leadership and are always willing to support colleagues. Their flexible, solution-focused approach has improved access, continuity and quality of care for service users.”

Presenting the awards, Claire Murdoch, CNWL Chief Executive praised all nominees and reflected on the importance of recognising the extraordinary contributions of nursing staff. She said:

“Jody is not here in the way that we all dearly wish she was, but what you’ve all shown today is her legacy and what has continued even though she’s not here physically in person. It’s what you do every day, it’s how you do it, it’s your values, it’s your innovation. She will always be part of who we are, she will always be part of us.”

The event concluded with further networking, giving attendees the opportunity to reflect on Jody’s legacy alongside her family and celebrate the ongoing work of addictions nurses across the Trust.

The Jody Lombardini-Coleman Addictions Innovation Nursing Award will now become an annual event, ensuring her legacy continues to inspire excellence, compassion and innovation in care for years to come.