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Doctors and nurses working to combat Hepatitis C in the homeless during the pandemic, the team behind the UK’s first virtual reality lung rehabilitation programme launched this year and the research team working on the COVID-19 vaccine have all been recognised in the regional round of the NHS Parliamentary Awards, announced yesterday.

MPs and NHS leaders have joined forces to honour the skill, dedication and compassion of health and care staff who have helped to improve treatment for patients in their constituencies.

The winners, handpicked by judges drawn from across the NHS have been selected from over 700 nominations across 10 categories, which range from Excellence in Primary Care to the Lifetime Achievement Award and represent one winner per category in each NHS region.

These regional champions will now go head to head with other winners from across the country to be judged by a national panel made up of senior leaders representing staff and patients.

England’s Chief Midwife and chair of the National Judging panel this year, Professor Jaqueline Dunkley Bent, yesterday said:

“A huge congratulations to all those who have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to the NHS as well as making a genuine difference to the patients they care for.

“NHS staff and volunteers make the health service what it is today – the largest and greatest care team in the world.

“This year more than ever, the nation owes a debt of gratitude to the 1.3 million-strong army of nurses, midwives, GPs, physios, pharmacists, healthcare and maternity care assistants porters, cleaners, and countless other staff who ensured no patient who could benefit from NHS care was unable to receive it.

“It will be a tough task selecting our overall winners – I look forward to hearing more about their fantastic achievements and celebrating with them all at the national award ceremony.”

The coronavirus pandemic, the greatest public health challenge in the NHS history has prompted a record number of nominations from MPs across the country who have sought to shine a light on the dedication of nurses, midwives, GPs, physios, pharmacists, healthcare assistants, porters, cleaners, and countless other staff who have contributed to the unprecedented response.

Since the NHS was placed on the highest level of alert over Coronavirus at the start of the year, staff have worked tirelessly to redesign services, including creating the Nightingale hospitals and Seacole centres. The dedication and expertise demonstrated by NHS staff throughout the pandemic has led to nearly half of all England’s MPs putting forward a team or person serving their constituency for national recognition

The NHS Parliamentary Awards sponsored by Fujifilm UK were designed to recognise the massive contribution made by the individuals who work in and alongside the NHS.

The full list of regional winners can be found here.

Allan Elborn, General Manager of Medical Systems at Fujifilm UK yesterday said:

“We are astounded by the quality of the NHS Rising Star regional shortlist, a new category for this year’s awards which recognises the achievements of NHS staff members and volunteers under 30 who give up their time to improve services in their area.

“From everyone at Fujifilm, we extend our warmest congratulations to all of the regional winners, who together showcase the incredible level of care, compassion and innovation our NHS delivers every single day, and never more profoundly than in this past year. More so than ever, we are incredibly proud to sponsor the NHS Parliamentary Awards for the second year running and to be involved in celebrating these inspiring individuals and teams.”

All of the champions will now be invited to the national awards ceremony.The overall winners will be announced in July at special ceremony in the House of Commons.