Nominations have now opened for our hospital Trust’s Annual Staff Recognition Awards.

Patients and their families are invited to nominate members of staff and teams in our hospitals who have gone above and beyond their role to make a difference.

Nominations for the Patients' Choice Award can be made on the Trust's website at www.ouh.nhs.uk/patientschoice up until 3 August 2018 when the formal nomination period will close for this year.

Other categories will be nominated internally by staff at Oxford University Hospitals and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony, which is supported by Oxford Hospitals Charity, at Oxford Town Hall on Wednesday 5 December 2018.

Last year, winners and runners up were picked from over 600 nominations by a panel of staff, patients and governors.

John Drew, Director of Improvement and Culture at Oxford University Hospitals, said: "I attended last year's awards ceremony and it was a fantastic celebration of the truly remarkable stories that happen every day in our Trust. We heard from patients and colleagues about the staff who routinely go above and beyond their duties to provide excellent, compassionate care - the kind of care that all of us would want to receive for ourselves and our loved ones.

"I would encourage patients who have experienced exceptional care to nominate the individual or team that looked after them.

"It really makes a difference to staff to know that their hard work is recognised. We all know that the NHS is very busy at the moment, and it is really important for us all to take the time to say thank you and well done when we see great care."

Last year's winner of the Patients' Choice Award was Craniofacial Specialist Nurse, Kari Ashton.

Her nominator, Sarah, said "Kari is a wonderful lady. She treated myself and my family as individuals - not just patients. She listened to our concerns every step of the way. Her impact on our family was huge. I can never thank Kari enough for all she has done for us."

So if there a member of staff at one of our hospitals – or perhaps a whole team – that has made a real difference to you or your family why not nominate them today at www.ouh.nhs.uk/patientschoice