NOMINATIONS for an award celebrating unsung hospital heroes are still open.

The Echo revealed month it has once again teamed up with Southend Hospital to launch this year’s Patients’ Choice awards.

Voted for by the public, the awards are a chance for patients, carers, relatives, and visitors’ chance to say thank you by nominating a member of staff who has gone that extra mile to deliver the best possible service and really embodies our ethos of care with compassion.

This individual or team can demonstrate any of the following criteria:

- Taking take the time to care for others

- Good communicators, caring with compassion and empathy, treating others with dignity and respect

- Respecting patients’ time, giving others choice and independence

- Involving patients in their treatment decisions and choices

The public’s nominees will be shortlisted to three by judges Sue Hardy, chief executive of Southend Hospital, Alan Tobias, chairman, Claire Hankey, head of communications and Echo editor Chris Hatton.

Mr Hatton said: “Hospital staff will say they are just doing their jobs, but we believe they deserve recognition and the public are the best placed to shine a light on these unsung heroes.

“We are proud to be part of these awards and I have been fortunate enough to attend the awards ceremony and meet the fantastic people winners for myself in previous years.

“I am always humbled to see so many people who are passionate about caring for others and making a positive difference to so many patients’ lives.”

Details of the three finalists will be published in the Echo in mid-August.

The public will be asked to cast the final vote as to who should be crowned the 2016 Patients’ Choice winner.

Downloads a nomination form at southend.nhs.uk/about-us/media-centre/hospital-heroes-awards-2016-patients-choice/.

Nominations can be sent by email to hospital.heroes@southend.nhs.uk or by post to Hospital Heroes Awards, The Lodge, Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 0RY.

The losing date for nominations is Friday, August 5.