Skills for Health announces Our Health Heroes finalists

Our Health Heroes champions the incredible people at the heart of our NHS and is delivered by Skills for Health in partnership with NHS Employers, NHS Shared Business Services, SFJ Awards, NHS Race and Health Observatory and Integrated Care Journal.

After an extensive selection process, 23 finalists have been chosen across nine categories, each recognising the outstanding health heroes of the UK.

The selected finalists will be invited to attend the ceremony held in Central London on 22 May where the gold, silver and bronze award winners will be announced.

The finalists are as follows:

Individual categories

Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by SFJ Awards:

• Nasser Mohammed, Service Desk Supervisor/Developer, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• Tim Muttock, Business Administration Apprentice, Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Olivia Parsons, Clinic Manager, Beacon House

Healthcare Volunteer of the Year:

• Andy Emery, Transport Volunteer, Royal Voluntary Service
• David White, Patient Befriender Volunteer, Cardiff and Vale Health Board
• Chris Wilson, Volunteer Community First Responder, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Outstanding Life Contribution, sponsored by NHS Employers:

• Caroline Dowsett, Clinical Nurse Specialist, East London Foundation Trust
• Vedantee Shiebert, CAMHS Lead Nurse, Central and North West NHS Foundation Trust
• Pauline Taylor, Children’s Complex Care Quality Assurance Nurse, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Operational Support worker of the Year:

• Hayley Pedwell, Information Assistant, Macmillan Cancer Care
• Brian Taylor, Ambulance Welfare Officer, North East Ambulance Service Unified Solutions
• Lois Ward, Communications and Engagement Officer, Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Clinical Support Worker of the Year:

• Lynette Cook, Ward Coordinator, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
• Sam Desborough, Assistant Practitioner Occupational Therapist, Southwark Council
• Sarah Haynes, Healthcare Assistant, Modality Partnership

Team categories

Best Healthcare Workforce Collaboration:

• Personalised Independence Programme, Age UK HBW
• The What Matters Team, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Dedication to Lifelong Learnt Culture:

• Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub
• Patford House Partnership

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Champion, sponsored by NHS Race and Health Observatory:

• Wakefield Hospice
• West Midlands Ambulance Service

Digital Innovation, sponsored by NHS Shared Business Services:

• Paediatric Virtual Ward Team, Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Recruitment RPA Project Team, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Follow #OurHealthHeroes on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn for all the latest updates. To find out more visit: www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/awards