Nominations are open for this year’s Our Health Heroes Awards, delivered by Skills for Health.
Now in its seventh year, Our Health Heroes celebrates the wider healthcare workforce that supports NHS doctors and nurses on the frontline.
Supported by Health Education England, NHS Employers, UNISON, National Health Executive and more, this year’s Our Health Heroes sees the introduction of the new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Champion award.
Designed to recognise the efforts of teams and employers supporting equality, diversity and inclusion within their workforce, the EDI Champion award will honour those who have demonstrated a clear, significant, and sustainable improvement in tackling inclusion and diversity challenges.
In addition to the new award, Skills for Health is inviting nominations from across the following categories:
Individual awards
- Clinical Support Worker of the Year
- Operational Support Worker of the Year – sponsored by UNISON
- Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Healthcare – sponsored by NHS Employers
- Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by UNISON
Team awards
- NHS Improvement through Digital Innovation
- Dedication to a Lifelong Learning Culture – sponsored by SFJ Awards
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champion *new for 2023*
- Best Integrated Care Workforce Programme
- Best Health and Care Initiative by a UK Charity
- Best Emergency Services Collaboration
- Best Healthcare Initiative in a Community or Criminal Justice Setting
Shortly after nominations close on 20th February, a public vote will open to decide the gold, silver and bronze award winners in each of the four individual award categories.
The results of the vote and overall winners of the team awards will then be announced at a glittering ceremony held at the QEII Centre in London on 7th June.
John Rogers, Chief Executive of Skills for Health, which delivers Our Health Heroes Awards, comments:
“Without the wider healthcare workforce that Our Health Heroes aims to recognise and celebrate our NHS would grind to a halt.
“Now more than ever, it is important to raise awareness of the valuable contribution that these inspirational teams and individuals make to the health of the nation and to thank them publicly for the sacrifices they make.”
UNISON’s Head of Health, Sara Gorton, said:
“The dedication, expertise and hard work of all NHS staff must be recognised, particularly at a time of such immense pressure on the health service.
"The Our Health Heroes Awards shine a light on the vital work of the entire healthcare team – cleaners, porters, security staff, receptionists, medical secretaries and many more – without whom the NHS simply couldn’t function.
"UNISON is delighted to be sponsoring the awards once again to help recognise and give thanks for the valuable work of the whole NHS team.”
Daniel Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers, adds:
“NHS Employers is proud to support the Our Health Heroes Awards Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Healthcare category for 2023.
“It is especially important to recognise the amazing work of healthcare workers in these challenging times for the system and to ensure we celebrate all the amazing people who work across the health service going above and beyond every day for patients and their colleagues.
“These awards offer a great opportunity to show our appreciation for the truly incredible people whose contribution and dedication makes such a huge difference every day.”
To make a nomination visit: www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/ohh
