A WORCESTERSHIRE doctor has been applauded for his work helping people in the county suffering with eye conditions.

Consultant ophthalmologist at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Tarun Sharma was named Development Champion of the Year in the West Midlands NHS Leadership Recognition Awards earlier this month.

He was applauded for his work setting up the county’s first glaucoma support work and for securing extra funding to improve treatment for patients with eye conditions.

Mr Sharma was nominated for the award by his colleagues at the trust – which runs Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Kidderminster Hospital and Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital – and was presented with the award by TV personality Dr Christian Jessen at a ceremony at Birmingham Town Hall.

He said he was “delighted” to receive the award.

“I was not aware of these awards and I only learnt about them when I was shortlisted as a finalist,” he said.

“I am happy that my work has not only improved the financial viability of ophthalmology department but is also enhancing the reputation of the trust and its management at a national level.”

One of his colleagues in the trust’s ophthalmology department Salman Mirza said Mr Sharma had overseen a number of positive changes and innovative ideas.

“He has overseen the huge success of the nurse practitioners role in our unit,” he said.

“His work setting up support groups and securing funding for the department has motivated staff in the department to perform even better.

“Mr Sharma thoroughly deserves the recognition of these awards.”

Mr Sharma, along with all regional award winners, will now be finalists at the NHS’s national award ceremony in March.