Have you been in hospital recently and received exceptional care? Or have you been impressed by outpatient treatment or the way you have been looked after at home? If so we would like to hear from you as nominations open for the 2017 NHS Forth Valley Staff Awards.

There are six categories to choose from which aim to recognise the work of healthcare staff and volunteers across Forth Valley and organisers are hoping to top the 400-plus nominations received last year.

NHS Forth Valley Interim Chief Executive, Fiona Ramsey, said: “This is a great opportunity for patients and members of the public to say thank you and show their appreciation to the many wonderful staff and volunteers who go the extra mile every day to deliver excellent care and treatment.

“Our staff have told us that being recognised for their work is very important to them so if you know of someone who deserves an accolade, please let us know.”

The NHS Forth Valley Staff Awards aim to highlight the hard work, care and commitment of local NHS staff, Serco staff and volunteers. People can nominate an individual, team, service or department. It could be a nurse, doctor, AHP, administrator, porter or one of the many volunteers who support the work of NHS Forth Valley. They could work in a local hospital, health centre or in one of the many community teams across Forth Valley.

Last year’s winners of the Top Team Award were Ward A31 at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, who people described as “always cheery, very efficient and showing great kindness.” There was also recognition for NHS Forth Valley Consultant Paediatrician Dr Una MacFadyen for “maintaining an unequalled level of dedication and enthusiasm towards the care of sick children” and Housekeeper Nadine Sinclair, for her “bright and cheery attitude, a ray of sunshine.”

The Awards are part of a wider staff recognition programme to celebrate the work and achievements of staff across the organisation and nomination categories are:

• Top Team Award
• Inspiration Award
• Outstanding Care Award
• Volunteer Award
• Innovation Award
• Unsung Hero Award

NHS Forth Valley’s Head of Organisational Development, Morag McLaren, added: “The response from staff, patients and the general public last year was absolutely fantastic. Some of our staff were close to tears over the kind words which people had to say about them and really appreciated that their hard work had been recognised.”

Nominations can be made online at www.nhsforthvalley.com/staffawards  Nomination forms are also available in the main public reception and waiting areas of hospitals across Forth Valley. These can be returned in the freepost envelopes provided or handed to a member of staff.

The deadline for nominations is July 3rd 2017 and the awards ceremony will take place in early autumn.