HEALTH chiefs are on the lookout for healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, support workers, or ward team who have given outstanding care to patients.

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking nominations for its "Patients’ Choice Award" category at its annual staff awards.

The trust employs 9,000 staff and serves a population of around 820,000, and is responsible for running North Manchester and Fairfield eneral hospitals, The Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary and healthcare services in the community.

The Patients’ Choice Award gives the public and the trust’s 12,000 members the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ and publicly recognise the outstanding care and treatment given to either them, a relative or close friend. An independent judging panel will select the winner.

Dr Gillian Fairfield, trust chief executive, said: "Our Patients’ Choice Award aims to recognise individuals or teams whose commitment and compassion ensures that exceptional care is delivered to our patients. We know that we have so many extraordinary members of staff who, despite working under enormous pressure, deliver excellent care day in day out and are consistently finding ways to improve services for our patients and their families.

“This award gives local people the chance to acknowledge our staff and, inparticular, those special individuals who go the extra mile in the course of their work to provide exceptional high quality healthcare and great patient experience."

Nominations can be made by:

• submitting a nomination online via www.pat.nhs.uk

• e-mailing the details to ft.membership@pat.nhs.uk

• calling 01706 517302

Closing date is midnight Friday October 16. The winners will be announced at the trust’s staff awards evening on November 13.