Published at 16:30, Thursday, 09 August 2012

By Emma PrestonPATIENTS are being asked to nominate health heroes who go the extra mile.

For the first time, the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Furness General, is asking for the public’s help to identify exceptional staff.

The inaugural Your Health Heroes award scheme has 13 categories – Innovation, Doctor of the Year, Nurse of the Year, Midwife of the Year, Team of the Year, Special Achievement, Patient Safety, Behind the Scenes, Fundraiser of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Registered Professional of the Year, Student Trainee of the Year and Supporting the Organisation.

Trust chief executive, Jackie Daniel, said: “Over the past four years, we have asked our staff to nominate colleagues who they feel deserve recognition for their hard work and dedication.

“This year, we decided to put some of the power back into the hands of the public and ask them, as our patients, to tell us who we should be celebrating.” Examples of award-worthy work from frontline staff at FGH, Ulverston Community Health Centre, Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal, Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, can include good teamwork leading to fast diagnosis and treatment, sensitive care at difficult times, individual staff members who inspire their teams and staff who listen to patients and value their views.

Fundraisers, volunteers and governors can also be recognised for their dedication and hard work. The trust’s interim chairman, Sir David Henshaw, said: “From talking to staff, it is clear to see they are passionate about their work and offering the highest standards of care and support, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to around 164,000 patients a year. It is time this commitment and hard work was formally recognised and celebrated.”

For more details visit nwemail.co.uk, uhmb.nhs.uk or call 01539 716675 for an application pack. Nominations close on October 1. Three finalists from each category will attend the awards ceremony on November 16 at Kendal’s Castle Green Hotel.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk