Michael Gove, MP for Surrey Heath, is calling for nominees to enter for the official 2023 NHS Parliamentary Awards.
The awards recognise staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and they are even more special this year as they mark 75 years of the NHS caring for us from the cradle to the grave.
Competition is likely to be tough again this year as staff, carers and volunteers have come together in recent times to realise some remarkable achievements. For instance, the NHS has been able to carry out research at an unprecedented scale during the pandemic and find the world’s first effective treatment for Covid-19, dexamethasone, making it available across every hospital the same day it was approved.
Staff coming together within the NHS also enabled the NHS to not just deliver the first accredited Covid-19 vaccine in the world but to rollout the NHS vaccine programme with a combination of speed and precision unseen elsewhere.
Michael is now searching for outstanding nominees for the 2023 Awards who have innovated, impressed and made a real difference to how the health and care system provides care for patients.
Michael Gove MP said:
“Now it is 75, it is hard to imagine life without the NHS. I see so many hardworking NHS staff locally that it is easy to see why we are so proud of the NHS as a nation.
“The stories I hear from local health services make me incredibly proud of the fact that there are people in our constituency who are willing to provide such fantastic care to our most vulnerable residents. NHS staff, volunteers and carers make a true difference to the lives of their patients, and I want to recognise those individuals and teams as the NHS celebrates its 75th birthday with the NHS Parliamentary Awards this year.
“I want to hear from you about any outstanding care you have received in the last year so that I can nominate our local heroes for these awards.”
Dame Ruth May, chair of the judging panel and England’s Chief Nursing Officer, said:
“Staff and volunteers are at the heart of the NHS and have been throughout its 75 year history.
“The NHS Parliamentary Awards are a unique opportunity for MPs to highlight the amazing work done by NHS staff in their local areas, and I look forward to working with all of the judges to review the nominations we receive.”
This year there are 10 award categories, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Rising Star Award and, new for 2023, the NHS Volunteer Award.
The 2023 Parliamentary Awards launched on 6 March 2023, and all those who make the national shortlist will be invited to an award ceremony in Westminster to celebrate their fantastic achievements.
Last year, the NHS received over 700 nominations from over half of MPs representing constituencies in England.
Michael Gove MP is calling for potential nominations in the following categories:
• The Excellence in Healthcare: This award recognises individuals or teams who go above and beyond to either prevent major health conditions or improve outcomes and experiences for patients living with and beyond them.
• The Excellence in Mental Health Care Award: To the individual or team that has worked across organisational boundaries to develop new and effective services to help people living with mental health problems in their community.
• The Volunteer Award: The brand new Volunteer Award is for volunteers working to support the NHS to provide excellent care for patients, helping them to keep healthy and well.
• The Excellence in Urgent and Emergency Care Award: To the individual or team that has made improvements to how the NHS treats people in life or death situations.
• The Excellence in Primary Care and Community Care Award: As the needs of patients and the wider NHS evolves, so does the role of these professionals, and this award seeks to recognise practitioners and teams in primary or community care that are working with patients to help them stay healthy and avoid long stays in hospital or being admitted in the first place.
• The Future NHS Award: This award seeks to highlight individuals, teams and organisations that are successfully embracing the opportunities that come from advances in medical technology, data, and connectivity.
• The Health Equalities Award: This award is for an individual or organisation that has helped the NHS to do its bit by bringing together different groups and organisations to reduce health inequalities and prevent ill health in different communities.
• The Nursing and Midwifery Award: This award is for any nurse or midwife, that has used their skills to ensure that patients experience care and compassion. This award is also open to any one of the thousands of student midwives, nurses, allied health professionals and medical students who started their careers early to support the NHS’ response to coronavirus.
• The NHS Rising Star Award: This award looks to celebrate younger members of staff, volunteers or members of the public who give up their time, lend their experiences and deliver better services for themselves and others in their area.
• The Lifetime Achievement Award: This award is for an individual who has worked within a health or care setting for 40 years or more who has left a legacy.
