Call for Highland Health Heroes to be Honoured

31st July 2012

Nominations sought for Scottish Health Awards 2012.

The search is on for top health workers and teams across the Highlands as the Scottish Health Awards 2012 open for nominations.

Local people are being encouraged to nominate NHS workers and volunteers who regularly go beyond the call of duty to deliver exceptional quality healthcare and improve health services in their area.

The Scottish Health Awards celebrate loyal staff from every area of healthcare. Therapists, GPs, specialist carers or the cleaners and cooks who work tirelessly behind the scenes of NHSScotland are all eligible for an accolade.

This year there are a number of new categories including the Integrated Care for Older People Award, Quality Champion of the Year and Leading for Quality Award.

Last year, a caring nurse from NHS Highland was shortlisted for a renowned national accolade. Mandi Smith, a lead specialist heart failure nurse at the Coronary Care Unit at Raigmore, Inverness fought off stiff competition to be selected as a finalist for the Care for Long Term Illness Award.

The awards will culminate in a prestigious award ceremony in Edinburgh on 8 November 2012.

Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy, Nicola Sturgeon said: "All of us will know someone special who works in NHSScotland - someone who goes that extra mile to provide the very best quality healthcare to the people of Scotland. These awards provide us with the opportunity to recognise those dedicated and loyal staff working across the health service and I would encourage you to take this chance to nominate that member of staff for an award."

Anne Gent, Director of Human Resources, NHS Highland added: "Our staff work hard every day to provide the best possible care and to ensure local health services are the best that they can be.

"The Scottish Health Awards help to highlight the skills, dedication and commitment of professionals across Scotland who strive to provide first class healthcare to patients.

"I would like to encourage local people and staff within NHS Highland to nominate individuals and teams who have gone that extra mile to deliver first class quality healthcare."

To nominate your healthcare hero visit www.scottishhealthawards.com. The closing date for nominations is 10 September 2012.