TIME has come once again for the public to nominate extraordinary doctors, nurses and health workers for the Great Western Hospital’s People’s Choice Awards.

As part of the annual Staff Excellence Awards, now in their fifth year, former and current patients and service users are being invited to put forward anyone from a dentist or even a receptionist to a therapist for the honour.

The accolade recognises the outstanding achievements, hard work and dedication shown by staff, both at Great Western Hospital in Swindon and out in community hospitals and services across Wiltshire.

Oonagh Fitzgerald, director of workforce and education at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Each year the launch of our annual Staff Excellence Awards is always met with great enthusiasm and excitement. It is a great opportunity to celebrate the success of our staff in delivering professional, high-quality services and care to our patients every day of the year.

“In a busy NHS trust we don’t always get the chance to step back and reflect on the difference our staff make to people’s lives. This is why I think the People’s Choice Award is particularly special; it is a chance for patients and service users, their relatives or their friends to acknowledge those teams or individual members of staff who have gone the extra mile for them, and a chance for our trust to formally recognise them.”

Last year’s People’s Choice Award was won by antenatal and newborn screening coordinator Sue Tucker. She was put forward for the title for going above and beyond her duties to provide support to a bereaved couple after they lost their baby.

Sue said: “I was so pleased to win. It was a real honour to be nominated, especially by a service user. It validates what you do on a daily basis when someone going through a difficult time makes the decision to nominate.”

Other categories include Working Together, Special Achievement and Leadership and are only for nominations from members of staff themselves.

Judges will select a shortlist and all hopefuls will be invited to a special awards ceremony at the STEAM Museum in June 2014 where the winners will be announced.

Visit www.gwh.nhs.uk to download a nomination form.

Alternatively contact comms@gwh.nhs.uk or call 01793 604431.

The deadline is 5pm on Friday, March 7.