Hornchurch & Upminster MP, Julia Lopez, is calling on residents to nominate the best of the borough's NHS workers to this year’s NHS Parliamentary Awards, highlighting staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

The NHS relies on the skill, dedication and compassion of its staff, as well as the many volunteers, charities and communities that support the service. Those who dedicate their working lives to supporting people at their time of greatest need deserve to be honoured for their work. The NHS Parliamentary Awards, now in their seventh year, is a fantastic opportunity to do so.

Hornchurch and Upminster constituents are therefore invited to write to Julia to nominate individuals or teams in the NHS locally who have provided a fantastic service. Mrs Lopez also welcomes nominations for those NHS teams which have found new ways to broaden access to services and improve patients’ experience.

Nominations should be sent to Julia Lopez MP via [email protected] by Friday 12 April 2024. Individuals may also make their own nomination directly to NHS England, with a later deadline of midnight 19 April 2024, at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/nhs-parliamentary-awards/how-to-nominate/

Commenting, Mrs Lopez said:
“Our local NHS is full of hard-working and dedicated staff upon whom we depend when we, or our loved-ones, need them most. It is also bolstered by a huge number of committed community volunteers who so generously give their time to support patients and staff alike, helping however they can.

 Last Spring, I welcomed a delegation of award-winning staff from our local NHS Trust to Parliament to thank them for their tremendous efforts to supports patients during the difficult days of the pandemic. With the help of constituents' feedback, I shall be nominating the best of the borough's carers, doctors, nurses and volunteers for NHS Parliamentary Awards so they get the national recognition they deserve.”

Mrs Lopez 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 improve outcomes and experiences for patients living with and beyond major health conditions or work to prevent 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.
• 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 Nursing and Midwifery Award: This award is for any nurse or midwife, who has used their skills to ensure that patients experience care and compassion.
• The Health Equalities Award: This award is for an individual or organisation that helps 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 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 Excellence in Urgent and Emergency Care Award: This award seeks to celebrate the amazing work of our emergency care services across the country and we are looking specifically for nominees who have made improvements to how the NHS treats people who need urgent care in their areas.
• The Excellence in Education and Training Award: This award recognises a team or individual that is leading the way in supporting the delivery of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan through innovative approaches to education and training.
• The Volunteer Award: Volunteers have supported patients and staff in the NHS since its creation, doing everything from sitting with patients who are anxious or alone, to helping to provide life-saving support after a cardiac arrest. This award recognises the crucial role of volunteers in improving our health and care.
• 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.