Congratulations to all of the winners at the Our Health Heroes Awards 2023.
Supported by NHS England, UNISON, NHS Employers, SFJ Awards, NHS Race & Health Observatory and National Health Executive, Our Health Heroes Awards celebrates the wider healthcare workforce that supports NHS doctors and nurses on the frontline.
From porters and cleaners to receptionists, gardeners and security guards, these often unsung heroes make up roughly 40% of the million+ NHS workforce; Our Health Heroes Awards is a national celebration of their achievements and an opportunity to give thanks for the important role that they play in keeping the health service functioning.
This year’s winners were announced at an awards ceremony held at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London. The gold, silver and bronze winners (listed below in that order for each category) are as follows:
Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Healthcare (sponsored by NHS Employers)
• Toni Starr, Neonatal Sister, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Salli Jeynes, Chief Executive Officer, The End of Life Partnership
• Sandra Hands, Cluster Manager for North West Prisons, Spectrum Community Health CIC
Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by UNISON)
• Joe Maslen, Radiotherapy Assistant Practitioner, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
• Rochelle Sampson-Clarke, Estates Project Officer, Solent NHS Trust
• Hailei Petersen, Apprentice Nurse, Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Operational Support Worker of the Year (sponsored by UNISON)
• Mary McElroy, Integrated Care Team Admin Support, Southern Health & Social Care Trust
• Laura Cavina, Involvement Volunteer Coordinator, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust
• Katie Whittam, Coordinator/Trainer, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (read more about Katie’s work in the March/April issue of HEFMA’s Pulse magazine)
Clinical Support Worker of the Year
• Karen Read, Breast Cancer Support Worker, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
• Edelle Brown, Associate Practitioner, City Health Partnership CIC
• Helen McGowan-Thomson, Recruitment and Education Support Assistant, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Team Award Category Winners
• The Sleep Charity (Dedication to a Lifelong Learning Culture - sponsored by SFJ Awards)
• Brighter Futures, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Best Health and Care Initiative by a UK Charity)
• Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust (NHS Improvement through Digital Innovation)
• Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (Best Integrated Care Workforce Programme)
• Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust (Best Emergency Services Collaboration)
• Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (Best Healthcare Initiative in a Community or Criminal Justice Setting)
• Practice Plus Group (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champion)
John Rogers, Chief Executive of Skills for Health, the not for profit that delivers Our Health Heroes, says: “A huge congratulations to all Our Health Heroes finalists. Without the wider healthcare workforce that Our Health Heroes Awards 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.”
