The 2022 NHS Parliamentary Awards: get involved to say thanks
4 min read
The NHS Parliamentary Awards always showcase the very best examples of care that NHS staff strive to deliver across the country each and every day.
It is clear that as the health service recovers from what has been an extremely challenging two years, the NHS’ staff and volunteers refused to allow their attention on providing care for those with Covid-19 to distract them from serving those with other conditions too. This goes to show that our NHS staff are one of our nation’s greatest assets.
I have no doubt that this year’s awards will be one of the toughest, most competitive years yet. This is in part because of the extraordinary efforts NHS staff have made during the pandemic. Whether it is the work to effectively roll out the booster vaccination programme, which the UK Health Service Authority has estimated has prevented around 105,000 hospitalisations since mid-December, or it’s the work of primary and community care teams – who have innovated to ensure that patients receive the best possible care at home – the pandemic has shown the relentless and impassioned drive of staff and volunteers across the health service.
During my time as secretary of state for health and social care, and now in my role as chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, patient care has always been of paramount importance to me. With the various restrictions that the pandemic has necessitated, ensuring that patients receive the finest, personalised care has never been harder. Yet every day I hear stories of NHS staff who have gone above and beyond to provide this care. Due to the huge demands on their time and the extent to which the workforce’s capacity has been stretched, they rarely have time to be stopped and thanked. This is why the NHS Parliamentary Awards are so important.
Every day I hear stories of NHS staff who have gone above and beyond
As the NHS launches the Elective Recovery Plan, which aims to increase the health service’s capacity to deliver more procedures and scans than ever before, never has so much been asked of our NHS staff and volunteers.
I know from regular visits in my own constituency, there has been so much innovation and good practice rolled out for all patients, not just those with Covid. In light of this, I would urge you as fellow parliamentarians to nominate your local NHS heroes who deserve a thank you and a day in the spotlight.
Last year, I was particularly inspired to read about Joe Sim, who won the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to the NHS. Joe continues to make a huge impact on NHS Trusts across Derbyshire, with nearly 60 years’ service and despite officially retiring a number of years ago and now being over 80 years of age, Joe still goes into his local trust to offer advice and support to the staff there, the majority of whom he trained. People like Joe are what these awards are all about.
The nomination process has never been easier and if you’re unsure of who to nominate in your constituency, your local trusts and regional teams are always on hand to help you in the process.
All MPs representing constituencies in England can nominate individuals or teams, serving your constituency, for awards in any or all of the 10 categories for the NHS Parliamentary Awards. From pharmacists to community care staff, from mental health professionals to physiotherapists, from oncologists to nurses, there’s a category for everyone.
By now you will have been emailed a personalised link to the nominations portal and the deadline for nominating is midnight, Wednesday 6 April 2022. As ever, the 6 July NHS Parliamentary Awards ceremony at One Great George Street promises to be a great day of celebrating everything the NHS stands for. I sincerely hope to see you and your nominees there.
Jeremy Hunt is Conservative MP for South West Surrey and chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee
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