Nominate a local healthcare hero

PEOPLE living in Great Yarmouth and Waveney are being given the chance to nominate their healthcare heroes for a special award which celebrates those staff who go the extra mile to ensure their patients are treated with dignity and respect.

PEOPLE living in Great Yarmouth and Waveney are being given the chance to nominate their healthcare heroes for a special award which celebrates those staff who go the extra mile to ensure their patients are treated with dignity and respect.

The national People's Award for Dignity in Care has been created to give the public a chance to thank health and social care staff who have supported and cared for them or their loved ones.

Anyone who works in a care-giving job is eligible for the award, including nurses, healthcare assistants, hospital porters, doctors, social workers and nursing home employees. The only criteria is that the individual or team nominated must have gone the extra mile to ensure dignity and respect, giving that special personal touch to those they are helping.

Sir Michael Parkinson, the Ambassador for Dignity in Care, said: 'Most of us will at some point be in contact with care services - be that in our work, or as a service user, a carer, a relative or friend. The People's Award for Dignity in Care is a great way for us to recognise the dedication of health and care staff treating people with the dignity and respect they deserve.'

The new award will be given as part of the annual Health and Social Care Awards, which are designed to recognise and reward innovation and inspired thinking in the provision of care.

Ten regional finalists will be selected and go through to the final in July, where the winner and runners up will meet Sir Michael and Phil Hope, Minster for Care Services.

Nominate a healthcare hero by visiting www.diginityincare.org.uk or calling 0870 000 1100. Nominations close on March 6.