Our Health Heroes
The national health awards for the UK health and social care workforce
Now in its fifth consecutive year, the awards recognise and honour the hard work and dedication carried out daily by thousands of health heroes across the UK.
In this section:
Our Health Heroes Virtual Awards Ceremony
On 23rd March 2021, we will be crowning this year’s Our Health Heroes at an exciting virtual awards ceremony. Although the awards may look different this year, it will still be the inspiring and joyful event we all know it to be. You can watch the winners be announced from the comfort of your own home or desk, so don’t miss this opportunity to share our winner’s successes, be inspired by their stories, and hear from some special guests!
2021 Finalists - voting has now closed
We are delighted that so many individuals and teams have been recognised in this year’s Our Health Heroes awards. The awards recognise, celebrate, and honour the hard work and dedication carried out daily by thousands of healthcare workers across the UK.
Voting is now closed. Winners will be announced at our virtual award ceremony on March 23rd 2021.
Operational Services Support Worker of the Year
Sponsored by UNISON, this award celebrates those in operational support roles, providing vital services for colleagues, patients, and service users in NHS settings. Operational support workers play a crucial part in our healthcare services keeping people, systems and processes running, without whom the NHS simply couldn’t survive. Our three finalists are Marie Smith, a Ward Clerk from St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Laura Hurford, a Learning & Development Senior Administrator from Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust (WAST); and Tina Hughes, a Domestic Assistant from East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.
Voting has now closed. Winners will be announced on the 23rd March.
Outstanding Contribution Award
Sponsored by NHS Employers, this award recognises thousands of individuals working in healthcare going above and beyond for the benefit of patient care, and who support their colleagues. Nominees act as role models in the workplace, always encouraging those around them, and make outstanding contributions that make a difference to the immediate care of individuals and the wider healthcare sector. Our three finalists are Cody Gaubert, a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist from Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Janis Hostad, an Education and Development Coordinator from Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; and Amit Arora, a Consultant Geriatrician from University Hospital of North Midlands (UHNM).
Voting has now closed. Winners will be announced on the 23rd March.
Apprentice of the Year
Sponsored by UNISON, this award celebrates the significant contribution made by apprentices in the healthcare sector. This award shines a light on the bright stars of the future, with individuals who have not only gone above and beyond at their organisation, but act as advocates for apprenticeships as a route to healthcare careers, in both clinical and operational roles. Our three finalists are Sofia Goodchild, an Apprentice Partnerships and Integration Administrator from NHS Castle Point and Rochford CCG; Isa Ullah-Khan, an Apprentice Healthcare Assistant from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust; and Janine Pring, an Apprentice Respiratory Physiologist from North Bristol NHS Trust.
Voting has now closed. Winners will be announced on the 23rd March.
Clinical Support Worker of the Year
This award celebrates those in clinical support roles, providing vital support services for patients and service users in health and social care settings. Clinical support workers play a crucial role in the delivery of exceptional care, without whom the health and social care sector simply couldn’t exist. Hundreds of nominees have been on the frontline helping to care for the most vulnerable in society, many working in roles that often go unnoticed. Our three finalists are Claire Petford Norton, a Healthcare Assistant from Milton Keynes University Hospital; Eileen McCullough, a Support Worker from Belfast Health and Social Care Trust; and Thomas Gregory-Smith, a Community Support Worker from Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Voting has now closed. Winners will be announced on the 23rd March.
Independent Health and Social Care Worker of the Year
Celebrating the UK’s Independent Health and Social Care workforce at any level working in non-NHS health and social care settings, this often-hidden workforce, make up a vital part of the health and care system. Nominees play a crucial role in caring for patients and service users who may need full-time or specialist care in the home or in permanent residence. Their contribution is vital to the national effort to improve health and wellbeing for thousands of individuals across the country. Our three finalists are Joshua Mizen, a Specialists Support Worker for Thompsons at Home; Peter Morris, a Gardener for St Raphael’s Hospice; and Steve Singh, a Driver and Support Worker for Sahara Care.
Voting has now closed. Winners will be announced on the 23rd March.
In addition to announcing Gold, Silver and Bronze winners for our five individual categories, we will also announce winners for Our Health Heroes team awards on the 23rd March at our virtual ceremony. These categories include Integrated Team of The Year; Learning and Development Project/Team of the Year; Health and Wellbeing Employer of the Year; and Digital Innovation Person/Team of the Year.
Find out more about Our Health Heroes, sign up for live updates.
Our Health Heroes 2019
Over 900 nominations were received for the national Our Health Heroes Awards 2019, from across the UK’s health and social care sector. And, on Wednesday 20th November 2019, more than 200 guests, including Prerana Issar, Chief People Officer at NHS England & Improvement, gathered for the fourth annual Our Health Heroes awards at London’s Science Museum.
Organised by Skills for Health and headline sponsor Health Education England (HEE), the ceremony, which was hosted by GP and TV Presenter Dr Dawn Harper, and included a performance by former doctor-turned-writer Adam Kay, celebrated the country’s unsung healthcare heroes.
During the event, trophies were presented to the winners of eight national award categories including: Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by UNISON; Operational Services Support Worker of the Year, sponsored by UNISON; Clinical Support Worker of the Year; Integrated Team of The Year; Learning and Development Project of the Year; Workforce Planning Team of The Year, sponsored by Locum’s Nest; Staff Retention and Wellbeing Employer of the Year; and Outstanding Contribution, sponsored by NHS Employers.
Find out more about Our Health Heroes, watch the 2019 highlights video.
#NHS70
The third annual Our Health Heroes Awards, hosted in 2018, meant a great deal to the hundreds of people nominated.
Celebrating the 70th birthday of our beloved NHS was just one of the reasons we received the highest number of nominations and held the largest ceremony to date, at London’s Oxo Tower. 160 guests attended the prestigious ceremony, hosted by TV Star Sunetra Sarker, along with the Skills for Health team.
Sponsored by Health Education England, UNISON, NHS England, NHS Improvement and many more, the extra special Our Health Heroes Awards dedicated 2018 to recognise those who have served in the NHS for most of their lives with the national #NHS70 Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, the other 7 award categories included: Operational Services Support Worker of the Year, sponsored by UNISON; Clinical Support Worker of the Year; Apprentice of the Year; Workforce Planning Team of the Year; Integrated Team of the Year Award; and the Staff Retention and Wellbeing Employer of the Year Award.
Watch the ceremony highlights video to experience Our Health Heroes 2018.
Meet our Sponsors
NHS Employers
The employers’ organisation for the NHS in England. We help employers to develop a sustainable workforce, improve staff experience and be the best employers they can be.Our practical resources and expert insights help make sense of current and emerging healthcare issues, to keep employers up to date with the latest thinking and ensure they are informed and equipped to support the NHS workforce. We also lead the national collective relationships with trade unions on behalf of the NHS and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
UNISON
As the UK’s largest healthcare union, its members include nurses, midwives, health visitors, paramedics, cleaners, healthcare assistants, porters, caterers, medical secretaries, as well as clerical, administrative, scientific and technical staff. The One Team campaign aims to promote the message that everyone who works in the NHS is valued, no matter what role they fulfil. UNISON is proud to be sponsoring the Our Health Heroes operational services award to recognise the amazing work support staff do every day.
Bevan Brittan
Bevan Brittan is a UK-Top 100 national law firm providing a comprehensive range of legal and advisory services to over 800 businesses as well as being a market-leading firm within health and social care, housing and local and central government. Highly skilled, our people have built up exceptional knowledge over time in their chosen markets to gain invaluable experience and deliver a confident, rounded view. We proactively and passionately deliver legal and regulatory advice that generates outstanding results and truly delivers value for our clients.
Just some of the winning organisations...
Our Health Heroes celebrates individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond for the health and social care sector, and often nominees are put forward by their employer. Here are just a few of the organisations that represent the Our Health Heroes alumni over five years of awards.
Live Our Health Heroes News
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All the latest Our Health Heroes insights
Read more about Our Health Heroes previous winners and what they are doing now.