Our Health Heroes
Winners revealed at a glittering ceremony on the 24th March 2022
Nineteen new winners were revealed at the sixth annual Our Health Heroes Awards on the 24th of March 2022. Attended by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, along with hundreds of other supporters, the winning individuals and teams received their trophies and were celebrated for their achievements.
In this section:
Watch on-demand
A record number of votes were received for the 2022 Our Health Heroes Awards, and the winners were revealed during the ceremony on Thursday 24th March 2022, at London’s Science Museum.
Thanks to the support from our sponsors, including headline sponsor Health Education England, the sixth annual awards were hosted in-person and live-streamed. With a guest appearance from Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid MP, our worthy winners and finalists were recognised and celebrated for their outstanding achievements.
We teamed up with Showtime Photo Booth for the this year’s award ceremony and we used their Open Air Photo booth where all winners and attendees captured their special memories throughout the ceremony. All the action from the day was shared on Twitter. Find @SkillsforHealth or search for #OurHealthHeroes to find out more.
Exceptional NHS Operational Support Worker of the Year
Sponsored by UNISON, this award celebrates the thousands of individuals working in non-clinical roles, without whom, the healthcare system could not function. From the porters, the cleaners, the receptionists, the gardeners, to the administrators, security guards, researchers, technicians, and hundreds more. The winners were revealed at the awards ceremony on the 24th of March at London’s Science Museum.
Inspirational Clinical Support Worker of the Year - Meet the Finalists
Celebrating those in clinical support roles, providing vital support services for patients and service users in health and social care settings. Clinical support workers play a crucial role in the delivery of exceptional care, without whom the health and social care sector simply couldn’t exist. The winners were revealed at the awards ceremony on the 24th of March at London’s Science Museum.
Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Healthcare - Meet the Finalists
There are thousands of individuals working in healthcare who would be deserving of this title. This award is proudly sponsored by NHS Employers. The health sector is made up of people who go above and beyond for the benefit of patient care and service delivery, and who support their peers and colleagues. The winners were revealed at the awards ceremony on the 24th of March at London’s Science Museum.
Breakthrough Apprentice of the Year - Meet the Finalists
Recognising and celebrating the significant contribution made by an apprentice within their organisation in the healthcare sector, sponsored by UNISON. This award shines a light on the talented upcoming stars of the future, with individuals who act as advocates and ambassadors for apprenticeships as a route to healthcare careers, in both clinical and operational roles. The winners were revealed at the awards ceremony on the 24th of March at London’s Science Museum.
NHS Improvement through Digital Innovation
This award will be given to an individual or team who has demonstrated a clear, significant, and successful digital innovation that has transformed outcomes, developed processes, and improved patient care. Nominations have closed for this award category. Winners were hand-picked by the prestigious Our Health Heroes judges and were revealed at the awards ceremony on the 24th of March at London’s Science Museum.
Best Healthcare Initiative in a Community or Criminal Justice Setting
There are thousands of individuals working in healthcare roles in community and criminal justice settings, with patients and service users who have complex healthcare needs. Nominees demonstrate the creative delivery of healthcare programmes that have made a difference to health and wellbeing outcomes for patients and service users. Winners were hand-picked by the prestigious Our Health Heroes judges and were revealed at the awards ceremony on the 24th of March at London’s Science Museum.
Dedication to a Lifelong Learning Culture
This award, proudly sponsored by SFJ Awards, recognises new approaches to improve Learning and Development in healthcare, across teams, departments, or entire organisations and champions commitments to lifelong professional learning for the workforce. Winners were hand-picked by the prestigious Our Health Heroes judges and were revealed at the awards ceremony on the 24th of March at London’s Science Museum.
Most Inspired Health and Care Support by a UK Charity / Social Enterprise
This award will go to an organisation that has made a difference to the UK’s health and wellbeing, whatever the size. Charities, CIC’s and Social Enterprises have collaborated, partnered, and supported the NHS and Social Care organisations in hundreds of ways, each effort making a difference to someone in need. Winners were hand-picked by the prestigious Our Health Heroes judges and were revealed at the awards ceremony on the 24th of March at London’s Science Museum.
Most Promising OD & People Programme
This award will be presented to an organisation that has shown a commitment to deliver on the ambitions of the NHS People Plan and demonstrate a clear people & OD strategy to enhance workforce outcomes. Nominations are based on those going above and beyond to implement a people strategy that will make a real difference to staff. Winners were hand-picked by the prestigious Our Health Heroes judges and were revealed at the awards ceremony on the 24th of March at London’s Science Museum.
Most Progressive Integrated Care Workforce Programme
This award will recognise employers developing or already delivering exceptional workforce development programmes to support integrated care systems. This award will recognise employers developing or already delivering exceptional workforce development programmes to support integrated care systems. Winners were hand-picked by the prestigious Our Health Heroes judges and were revealed at the awards ceremony on the 24th of March at London’s Science Museum.
Best Emergency Services Collaboration
This award recognises the long-term positive impact that collaborative working has had on all healthcare services and will be awarded to an employer, team, or group of individuals who have demonstrated significant improvement to the quality of services throughout the year. Winners were hand-picked by the prestigious Our Health Heroes judges and were revealed at the awards ceremony on the 24th of March at London’s Science Museum.
Get involved
The Our Health Heroes Awards will be back in 2023. To get involved in sponsoring or supporting the awards, please get in touch by emailing events@skillsforhealth.org.uk
2022 Ceremony Photo Library
Browse the photo library from the Our Health Heroes Awards 2022
Our Health Heroes Awards 2021
In March 2021 we welcomed 19 amazing individuals and teams into the Our Health Heroes hall of fame. Every single one of them, so deserving of this recognition. Download the 2021 ceremony programme to read even more about our winners and partners.
If you’d like to get involved next year, click here to find out how you can become a sponsor.
Organised by Skills for Health and with support from award category sponsors UNISON and NHS Employers, the virtual awards were hosted by Skills for Health’s Executive Director, Candace Miller. 19 worthy winners were congratulated by sponsors, special guests, industry leaders, and celebrities.
During the event, trophies were presented to the winners of award categories including: Apprentice of the Year and Operational Services Support Worker of the Year, sponsored by UNISON, Clinical Support Worker of the Year, Independent Health and Social Care Worker of the Year, Integrated Team of The Year, Learning and Development Project/Team of the Year, Health and Wellbeing Employer of the Year, and Digital Innovation Person/Team of the Year, and Outstanding Contribution, sponsored by NHS Employers
Watch the 2021 Our Health Heroes Awards ceremony on-demand.
Our Health Heroes Awards 2019
Over 900 nominations were received for the national Our Health Heroes Awards 2019, from across the UK’s health and social care sector. And, on Wednesday 20th November 2019, more than 200 guests, including Prerana Issar, Chief People Officer at NHS England & Improvement, gathered for the fourth annual Our Health Heroes awards at London’s Science Museum.
Organised by Skills for Health and headline sponsor Health Education England (HEE), the ceremony, which was hosted by GP and TV Presenter Dr Dawn Harper, and included a performance by former doctor-turned-writer Adam Kay, celebrated the country’s unsung healthcare heroes.
During the event, trophies were presented to the winners of eight national award categories including: Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by UNISON; Operational Services Support Worker of the Year, sponsored by UNISON; Clinical Support Worker of the Year; Integrated Team of The Year; Learning and Development Project of the Year; Workforce Planning Team of The Year, sponsored by Locum’s Nest; Staff Retention and Wellbeing Employer of the Year; and Outstanding Contribution, sponsored by NHS Employers.
Find out more about Our Health Heroes, watch the 2019 highlights video.
#NHS70
The third annual Our Health Heroes Awards, hosted in 2018, meant a great deal to the hundreds of people nominated.
Celebrating the 70th birthday of our beloved NHS was just one of the reasons we received the highest number of nominations and held the largest ceremony to date, at London’s Oxo Tower. 160 guests attended the prestigious ceremony, hosted by TV Star Sunetra Sarker, along with the Skills for Health team.
Sponsored by Health Education England, UNISON, NHS England, NHS Improvement and many more, the extra special Our Health Heroes Awards dedicated 2018 to recognise those who have served in the NHS for most of their lives with the national #NHS70 Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, the other 7 award categories included: Operational Services Support Worker of the Year, sponsored by UNISON; Clinical Support Worker of the Year; Apprentice of the Year; Workforce Planning Team of the Year; Integrated Team of the Year Award; and the Staff Retention and Wellbeing Employer of the Year Award.
Watch the ceremony highlights video to experience Our Health Heroes 2018.
Meet our Sponsors
Health Education England
Health Education England (HEE) exists for one reason only: to support the delivery of excellent healthcare and health improvement to the patients and public of England by ensuring that the workforce of today and tomorrow has the right numbers, skills, values and behaviours, at the right time and in the right place. For more information, visit www.hee.nhs.uk
NHS Employers
The employers’ organisation for the NHS in England. We help employers to develop a sustainable workforce, improve staff experience and be the best employers they can be. Our practical resources and expert insights help make sense of current and emerging healthcare issues, to keep employers up to date with the latest thinking and ensure they are informed and equipped to support the NHS workforce. We also lead the national collective relationships with trade unions on behalf of the NHS and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
UNISON
As the UK’s largest healthcare union, its members include nurses, midwives, health visitors, paramedics, cleaners, healthcare assistants, porters, caterers, medical secretaries, as well as clerical, administrative, scientific and technical staff. The One Team campaign aims to promote the message that everyone who works in the NHS is valued, no matter what role they fulfil. UNISON is proud to be sponsoring the Our Health Heroes operational services award to recognise the amazing work support staff do every day.
Bevan Brittan
Bevan Brittan is a UK-Top 100 national law firm providing a comprehensive range of legal and advisory services to over 800 businesses as well as being a market-leading firm within health and social care, housing and local and central government. Highly skilled, our people have built up exceptional knowledge over time in their chosen markets to gain invaluable experience and deliver a confident, rounded view. We proactively and passionately deliver legal and regulatory advice that generates outstanding results and truly delivers value for our clients.
Chamberlain Dunn
Chamberlain Dunn has over twenty-five years experience of helping organisations in health and social care throughout the UK reach their key audiences to deliver strong and effective messages. We are the creators of the award-winning Advancing Healthcare awards for allied health professionals and healthcare scientists (running for 15 years with bespoke events for Wales and Northern Ireland) and over the years we have run many successful campaigns, combining well-designed materials with effective media and social media reach.
Become a partner
The Our Health Heroes awards is the only charitable awards scheme dedicated to shining a light on the individuals and teams who often go unnoticed in health and social care. Join a group of like-minded organisations championing our NHS workforce by partnering with us for the 2022 Our Health Heroes awards.
Just some of the winning organisations...
Our Health Heroes celebrates individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond for the health and social care sector, and often nominees are put forward by their employer. Here are just a few of the organisations that have been represented by Our Health Heroes winners.
Live Our Health Heroes News
Sign up to receive live updates about the Our Health Heroes Awards, learn valuable insights about our previous winners and where they are now.
All the latest Our Health Heroes insights
Read more about Our Health Heroes previous winners and what they are doing now.