Time to vote for unsung heroes of health service

The Evening News has teamed up with NHS Lothian to support a new category in the health board’s Celebrating Success Awards, which will see members of the public nominate caring workers who have made a difference to their lives.

And we are calling on our readers to get involved by putting NHS Lothian staff forward for the Health Hero award, before the deadline at the end of this month. Any member of NHS Lothian’s 28,000 staff members is eligible to be nominated – it could be a community midwife, speech therapist, physiotherapist, nurse or doctor who has provided a fantastic service.

Evening News editor Frank O’Donnell said: “It is so important to recognise the fantastic work that goes on by thousands of NHS Lothian staff, day in, day out.

“This award is a chance for our readers to nominate those individuals who have gone the extra mile in providing care and support to the ill.”

The health board has acknowledged that it is facing significant challenges, as it battles to get waiting times under control and attempts to change its management culture, 
following a damning report published earlier this year.

But Tim Davison, who was this week named as the permanent chief executive of NHS Lothian, said he wanted the staff awards to highlight the excellent work that the vast majority of his workers put in.

He added: “There hasn’t been a better time to acknowledge what NHS Lothian does best. Given the recent waiting times performance and organisational culture review, it is important to highlight that the vast majority of staff do an exceptional job and go well above and beyond their duty every day.

“The Celebrating Success Awards is one way of saying thank you to the excellent staff who continue to provide the standards of patient care that NHS Lothian can be proud of.”

Speaking about the Health Hero category, Mr Davison, who was previously chief executive at NHS Lanarkshire before taking on the Lothian hotseat, said: “I am delighted that the Edinburgh Evening News is getting behind this special category – which is about allowing those who use our services to pay tribute to the staff who deliver their care.

“The awards are about recognising the very best of NHS Lothian. This is not about being the best for its own sake – it is about delivering the best for the communities we serve. By involving the public in this event we hope to recognise the staff that our patients tell us are the best.”

A Health Hero can be anyone who is constantly supportive and helpful to others, goes the extra mile, is outstanding in what they do, is approachable to patients and colleagues, is professional in their line of work, focuses on patients’ needs or shows genuine understanding and care for patients.

The deadline for nominations is August 31, with the winner set to be announced at the awards ceremony in 
October.

• To nominate your Health Hero, visit www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk and follow the link or call 0131-465 5710.

Fiona goes extra mile

FIONA Taylor may be one of those in the running for the inaugural Health Hero award.

In 2010, the charge nurse scooped an internal NHS Lothian prize in recognition of her outstanding dedication. Fiona, based in the oncology ward in the Western General, stayed after her shifts to spend time with patients and raised money for cancer charities in her free time.