Our Health Heroes Awards: Championing the skills, values and behaviours that lead to excellent healthcare

TV’s Dr Dawn Harper and former doctor and best-selling author Adam Kay will be among the guests celebrating the hard work and dedication of healthcare staff from across the UK at the fourth annual Our Health Heroes Awards.

Dr Dawn Harper, best known for her appearances on Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies and Born Naughty? will host the national Our Health Heroes awards, while best-selling author of This is Going to Hurt, Adam Kay, is due to give a special performance during the ceremony at London’s Science Museum on Wednesday 20th November.

Organisers Skills for Health have already received more than 500 nominations but are calling for any final submissions ahead of the deadline on Friday 12th July 2019 via the dedicated Our Health Heroes webpage.

Now in their fourth year, Our Health Heroes are the only national healthcare awards which recognise clinical and operational staff who are often in roles considered behind-the-scenes, but who make up more than 40% of the NHS, the UK’s biggest employer.

Nominations are welcome from members of the public and healthcare professionals and everyone who submits a nomination will be in with a chance to win tickets to attend the award ceremony, where they can enjoy afternoon tea and catch a preview of Adam’s current tour. 

The categories for this year’s awards are:

• Outstanding Contribution Award – sponsored by NHS Employers
• Clinical Support Worker of the Year (twelve regional finalists and one national winner)
• Operational Services Support Worker of the Year – sponsored by UNISON (twelve regional finalists and one national winner)
• Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by UNISON
• Staff Wellbeing Employer of the Year Award  
• Workforce Planning Team of the Year
• Integrated Team of the Year
• Learning and Development Project/Team of the Year Award – sponsored by Kissing it Better

Dr Dawn Harper said: “I’m delighted to have been asked to host this very special event, recognising the amazing work our dedicated healthcare support staff carry out day after day, across the UK.

“These people are the true heroes of our healthcare service and they deserve to be rewarded for their efforts with such a fantastic occasion.”

Adam Kay said: “I’m so proud to be able to celebrate the heroes working in the NHS, and recognise their hard work and phenomenal dedication.

“Without these people, the NHS couldn’t survive. These are the unsung heroes of the UK’s healthcare sector and we want to say thank you to them.”

Entries will be shortlisted by an expert panel after the deadline. The regional winners and some category finalists will be put to the public vote, before the eight overall national winners are announced at the ceremony in November.

About Skills for Health: Working with employers since 2002 and is the Sector Skills Council for the healthcare sector. It is the authoritative voice on workforce skills issues and offers proven solutions and tools, with the expertise and experience to use them effectively. 

About Health Education England (HEE): Supporting the delivery of excellent healthcare and health improvement to the patients and public of England by ensuring that the workforce of today and tomorrow has the right numbers, skills, values and behaviours, at the right time and in the right place.

About UNISON: One of the UK’s largest trade unions, serving more than 1.3 million members who work in a range of public services and utilities. UNISON’s 12 regions are Eastern, East Midlands, Greater London, Northern, Northern Ireland, North West, Scotland, South East, South West, Wales, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber. The union’s One Team campaign has been launched to ensure everyone in the NHS is valued, whatever their role. 

About NHS Employers: The employers’ organisation for the NHS in England. We support NHS workforce leaders through our practical tools and resources, through our expert advice and guidance, and by listening to employers to ensure their voice is represented in health policy and practice.

About Kissing it Better: On a mission to end the isolation of old age by bringing the generations together. The charity’s imaginative healthcare projects make an immediate and lasting difference to the lives of frail older people across the country – they also give young people a unique and enriching experience.