Nominate your healthcare hero, including those who work at Bridport Community Hospital.

To recognise the incredible efforts of our local NHS, Dorset HealthCare is asking residents to nominate their 'stand-out superstar' for the trust's 2021 Better Every Day Awards.

Many of the trust's staff members have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help patients, service users and each other while helping to guide our county through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The awards give everyone a chance to celebrate Dorset's hard working and committed individuals or teams - whether it's 'frontline' clinical staff in community hospitals, inpatient units, clinics or people's homes, or the behind-the-scenes staff who keep things running, such as IT, catering and estates management.

Perhaps you know someone who has made a huge difference to a patient over the past 18 months, or a person or team that has continued to provide a fantastic service during difficult times.

The categories are:

• Excellence - a person who is committed to delivering a high standard of patient care that made an impact on those around them

• Compassion - someone who has made a difference to those they work with or care for

• Expertise - a person who shows commitment to learning and improvement that benefits patients and/or staff

• Team of the Year - a team which has gone the extra mile to consistently deliver an outstanding service throughout the year

• Leadership and Management - a person who has demonstrated highly effective and valued leadership or management of their team, led by example and acted with professionalism and integrity

• Volunteer of the Year - someone who works tirelessly, generously giving their time, enthusiasm and energy to improve services by supporting patients, visitors and their families

• Apprentice of the Year - a person who has made an exceptional contribution to their workplace

• Bank Worker of the Year - someone who has demonstrated reliability, commitment and continued excellence at work, while being flexible and learning quickly

• Innovation and Improvement - an individual or team who has overcome a challenge and worked on the development of a new initiative or change that has made an improvement to working practices and/or patient care.

• Learner of the Year - an outstanding individual who has made a real difference to their work, team, service or patients/service users

Andy Willis, chairman of Dorset HealthCare, said: "It's been an exceptionally challenging year or so, and it's once again time to recognise the inspirational work our teams do to deliver brilliant services for the people of Dorset.

"You may want to reflect on our teams' commitment and dedication during the pandemic, although entries don't have to be directly related to this.

"We know our people are greatly appreciated for their dedication to our patients and services, so please nominate someone - or a team - to say 'thank you'. It will mean a great deal to those who are nominated.

"We really look forward to hearing from you."

Nominations are open until Friday, September 10 and the winners will be announced at a virtual celebration in November.

For more information, visit dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk

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