Vote now for your health hero

Help celebrate the unsung heroes of the NHS – voting closes on 6 November

photo of young girl in mask and cape alongisde social media tag #ourhealthheroes

The hard-working heroes who keep the NHS running – often in unsung ways – are being recognised in the second annual Health Heroes awards, organised by Skills for Health and sponsored by Health Education England.

After a successful debut in 2016, this year the awards include three new categories: integrated team of the year, workforce planning team of the year and apprentice of the year, alongside the established clinical and operational services support worker of the year awards.

UNISON is once more sponsoring one of the awards and head of health Sara Gorton commented: “Every day behind the scenes in the NHS, there are entire teams of healthcare support staff going above and beyond to ensure that patients are getting the best possible care, despite the many constraints they are forced to operate under.

“The quality of the nominations received and the deserving regional winners announced are a true tribute to the wider NHS, which often goes unnoticed.

“Health workers work as a team to deliver the best care, and they need to be recognised, valued and rewarded as just that.

After more than 950 nominations, a total of 33 finalists and regional winners have been revealed across the five categories.

Now the public, including can vote for the clinical and operational services support worker of the year from among the regional winners, as well as choosing the bronze, silver and gold apprentice of the year.

The finalists are:

 

Operational services worker of the year

Finalists

Anthea Lee Allen, team secretary, South London and Maudsley Hospital

Keith Arries, maintenance worker, The Grange nursing home, Northumberland

Danii Clark, Equality and human rights assistant, East Sussex Healthcare NHS trust

Matthew Glasgow, general secretary, Warren children’s centre, Lisburn

Melanie Ince, EMIS systems manager, North Manchester General Hospital

Leanne Mathers, placement co-ordinator Beechwood College, Penarth

Marie MacIver, medical secretary, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow

Jackie Pearson, reception supervisor, Adelaide Medical Centre, Hampshire

Gwenda Porter-Harris, assistant telecoms manager, Bedford Hospital

Julie Skeemer, domestic assistant, Leiceter Royal Infirmary

Paul Tobin, general porter, St James Hospital, Leeds

Jess Toon, activities co-ordinator, Richmond Bede Village

Clinical support worker of the year

Finalists

Seamus Begley, exercise led for the professional diabetes team, Western health and social care trust, Derry

Donna Bostock, CERT engagement worker, Salford

Steph Buswell, social worker, Isebrook Hospital, Wellingborough

John Clifford, physiotherapy technical instructor, Neath Port Talbot Hospital

Steve Dearsley, community support services supervisor, Headway Devon,

Gerri Fox, senior rehabilitation assistant, St Nicholas Hospice, Suffolk

Chris Hanilton, Healthcare assistant, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn

Ryan Lillie, community support worker, St Michael’s Hospital, Warwick

Helen Roberts, therapy support worker, Lynfield Mount Hospital,, Bradford

Parinda Vara, support worker, Croydon recovery and rehabilitation tem

Yvon Welch, healthcare assistant, Arran War Memorial Hospital

Cheryl young, deaf clinical support assistant, Walkergate Park, Newcastle

 

Apprentice of the year

Finalists

Omprakash Beniwal, apprentice healthcare assistant in chemotherapy, Barnet Hospital, London

Andrew Gunn, apprentice business support executive in marketing, The Edinburgh Cllinic

Aaron Myall, apprentice health care assistant in sexual health, Homerton Hospital, London

 

Find out more about the finalists and cast your vote