People across Forth Valley are being asked to nominate their local health heroes to help recognise the work of local healthcare staff and volunteers.

NHS Forth Valley Chief Executive Jane Grant said: “We want to hear about the many wonderful people who work in our organisation who go the extra mile every day to deliver excellent care and treatment to patients. This is an opportunity for their colleagues, patients and members of the public to say thanks and show their appreciation. So if you know of someone who deserves to be recognised we want to hear from you.”

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, receptionist, physiotherapist or one of the many volunteers who support the work of NHS Forth Valley. They could work in a hospital, health centre or in one of the many community health teams across Forth Valley.

The Awards are part of a wider staff recognition programme to celebrate the work and achievements of staff across the organisation. There are six award categories to choose from which aim to recognise excellence and innovation, outstanding care and celebrate exceptional achievements during the year.

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

NHS Forth Valley’s Head of Organisational Development, Morag McLaren, added: “We launched these awards in 2014 to help recognise the hard work, dedication and commitment of healthcare staff across NHS Forth Valley. The response from staff, patients and the general public was absolutely fantastic and we are hoping that this year’s awards will be just as successful.”

Feedback from the winners of the inaugural 2014 NHS Forth Valley Staff Awards show just how much staff and volunteers appreciate that their efforts have been recognised by colleagues and patients alike.

Winners of last year’s Innovation Award, the Theatre Team, said: “We were absolutely elated that our new and creative ways of working to enhance and support our patients care was recognised, not only in our own department, but also by the wider organisation.”

Jane Kaney, winner of the 2014 Unsung Hero Award said: “I felt very humbled to be nominated and then to win the award was a very pleasant experience. It was and still is a great honour. There are a lot of unsung heroes working within NHS Forth Valley. If you know one or work beside one please nominate them.”

Nominations can be made online at www.nhsforthvalley.com/staffawards.  Nomination forms will also be 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 for this year’s awards is Thursday 13^th August 2015.