The Best in Care Awards is back and sparklier than ever with new categories for 2017.

This year sees the introduction of the Training Education and Wellbeing Award, which highlights the important role training and education plays in delivering the best in care.

The Patricia Taylor Colleague of the Year Award will represent a personal ‘thank you’ from those who feel they have a truly amazing colleague, to that very special person. The award, named in recognition of the late Patricia Taylor’s exceptional support to her team, will highlight how it’s often the small actions that make a huge difference – from being the colleague who can be relied upon to help out, to always being there with a round of tea and a smile.

Amongst those awards are firm favourites such as Best in Clinical Care, the Chief Executive’s Award for Innovation, Team of the Year and the coveted Chair’s Award, which celebrates excellence in service.

But it is not just the outstanding feats of live-saving surgery or frontline staff that receive praise. The awards also celebrate the exceptional achievements, dedication and commitment of so many at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB).

The hospital employs an army of staff in non-clinical roles such as porters, cleaners and receptionists to support the clinical teams deliver their services as well as a host of corporate staff who ensure the smooth running of the organisation, therefore the ‘Behind the Scenes’ and the newly-named ‘Supporting our Services’ awards aims to put those who order, clean and maintain the pedestals firmly up there on one.

UHB Chief Executive, Dame Julie Moore, said: “It is important that we constantly re-examine what we do and how we celebrate achievement is no exception to that.

“The new categories ensure the Best in Care Awards reflects the broad spectrum of staff that make up UHB and the significant contributions they make.

“I am very much looking forward to this year’s event and to reading your nominations.”

There are 13 categories in total celebrating the variety of ways staff, volunteers and QEHB Charity supporters contribute to providing the best in care.

Nominations for the 2017 Best in Care Awards are now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination.