As NHSScotland celebrates its 65th year, people in the Lothians are being urged to nominate their local healthcare hero. Every year, the Scottish Health Awards recognise and reward the dedicated NHS staff, support workers, volunteers and specialist teams who go the extra mile to provide outstanding patient care.
With the NHS in Scotland helping more than 150,000 Scots every day, nominations are being sought from those who want to acknowledge the quality of treatment they have received, either for themselves or a loved one.
Whether in hospital, in the community, in a GP surgery, or at the dentist, as the NHS marks its 65th year, there has never been a better time to reward the people who give so much, helping the NHS provide world-class care to the people of Scotland.
Last year, there were four winners from the Lothian area at the Scottish Health Awards 2012. There are 16 award categories and a panel of judges will select three finalists in every category.
The awards will culminate in a prestigious award ceremony on the 7th November 2013 at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Alex Neil, said: “As Health Secretary I have many opportunities to see at first hand the excellent work that goes on to provide the highest quality of health and social care to the people of Scotland. The energy, commitment and compassion shown by people working in our NHS and across its partners in care is truly amazing.
“The Scottish Health Awards provide us with a fantastic opportunity to recognise those who go that extra mile to provide the very best of care. This year marks the 65th Anniversary of the NHS in Scotland and, as we reflect on how far our NHSScotland has come, there’s never been a better time to celebrate the hard work of those people.
“The awards celebrate the contribution of frontline health and social care workers but also those who work so hard behind the scenes in support roles to ensure we have the kind of healthcare and care services that are the envy of many other countries.
I hope patients, the public and staff will take the opportunity to nominate the people who deserve to be recognised for their work.â€
Alan Boyter, Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, NHS Lothian, said: “Our dedicated staff work tirelessly to make a difference to people’s lives throughout Lothian.
“I encourage people to take the time to thank the healthcare professionals who care for them every day. You can do this by nominating your health hero and letting them know their efforts are appreciated.â€
To nominate your healthcare hero visit www.scottishhealthawards.com. The closing date for nominations is the 6th September 2013.
The categories for nominations are outlined below.
Categories:
Doctors Award – both doctors and nurses in practices or hospitals across Scotland
Nurses Award – nursing teams in general care, community care or specialist care
Therapists Award – range of therapists from physiotherapy to dental hygiene
Unsung Hero Award – getting on with their work but bringing much more to their job
Support Workers Award – ranging from auxiliaries, cleaners, porters – there’s so many
Volunteers Award – unpaid assistance that makes healthcare experience so much better
Top Team Award – Scotland’s top NHS team can come from any service in the country
Care for Mental Health Award – working with vulnerable members of our communities
Care for Long-Term Illness Award – specialist care teams who are always on hand
Services to Women and Children Award – individuals and teams who provide specialist early years services and care for children and their families
Healthier Lifestyle Award – individuals and teams who are motivating and supporting people to lead healthier lifestyles
Health in the Workplace Award – recognising employers who have made a contribution to the health and wellbeing of their employees
Integrated Care for Older People Award – celebrating health and social care staff who provide vital healthcare and personal support to older people
Innovation Award – rewarding new and innovative ways of improving the quality of healthcare
Quality Champion of the Year – to honour those who have put quality improvement at the heart of what they do to transform patient care.
Leading and Managing for Quality Award – is aimed at outstanding and resilient managers and leaders who strive for quality at everything they do.
Your nominee must work for NHSScotland, with the exception of the Healthier Lifestyle, the Volunteer, the Health Promoting Business, the Integrated Care for Older People and the Unsung Hero categories.
The Scottish Health Awards 2013 is managed by the Scottish Government and the Daily Record.