Sherwood Forest Hospitals is giving patients, their families and the public the chance to nominate a deserving member of staff or team who goes the extra mile for a special award.

The People’s Award is one of the categories in the Trust’s annual Staff Excellence Awards and celebrates those members of staff who go above and beyond to deliver outstanding care or service, from porters and cleaners, nurses and doctors, through to administration staff and managers.

Anyone can nominate in The People’s Award category and nominations can be made for whole departments, ward teams, an individual member of staff or support team members who work at King’s Mill Hospital, Newark Hospital or Mansfield Community Hospital.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals’ chief executive, Richard Mitchell, said: “Opening up a special award to nominations from the public is a fantastic way for patients and families to show their appreciation for our dedicated staff, who very often go above and beyond to deliver outstanding care and make a visit to hospital a little bit easier.

“Our 2017 awards were a huge success with a record-breaking number of nominations. This is testament to the commitment and dedication that staff show and how well thought of they are amongst colleagues and patients.

“I believe all of our colleagues strive to provide the very best in patient care but these awards aim to highlight where a team or an individual has truly made a difference and exceeded expectations. Your nominations, whether the individual is shortlisted or not, help staff to feel recognised and appreciated. I will write to every member of staff nominated to tell them that they have been recognised for the care that they have provided to our patients.”

Last year’s winner of the People’s Award was nurse practitioner, Rachel Bennett. She was nominated for the award by a patient. Rachel went above and beyond her role whilst caring for a patient who was going through a difficult and distressing time. She worked incredibly closely with the family, even using her own time to research further ways she could help.

Rachel said: “I was overwhelmed and delighted to win the award last year. To be nominated by a member of the public is an absolute honour. For someone to take the time and communicate with the hospital about the care they have received brings immense satisfaction and I am most grateful for the nomination.

“To have the care I provide acknowledged in this way is the highest accolade and I am incredibly proud, not only of what I have achieved, but also of the care we provide at Sherwood Forest Hospitals as a team. Winning the award has to be the highlight of my 21-years in the NHS so far.”

Nominations can be made via an online form on the Sherwood Forest Hospitals website or posted to Communications Team, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Trust HQ, King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton, Nottinghamshire, NG17 4JL. Provide your name, telephone number, your nomination and reason for nominating in no more than 200 words.

Nominations close on Friday, 14 September at 5pm. As well as The People’s Award, 16 other awards nominated for by staff will be handed out at a prestigious awards ceremony on Friday, 9 November.