The finalists in this year's Worcestershire Health & Social Care Awards have been announced.

The awards - in partnership with Aspris Fostering Services - look to honour our healthcare heroes who work so tirelessly to help and care for us everyday.

The winners have been chosen by a panel of independent judges and the finalists in the 12 categories are:

NHS Team of the Year

  • The Care Transfer Hub
  • WiSH Sexual Health Outreach Nurses
  • Worcester & Droitwich Older Adult Mental Health Team

The Palliative/ End of Life Award

  • Acorns Children's Hospice
  • Kim Northwood, The Gables Rest Home
  • Wendy Dyer, Blossom Home Care, Worcester

The NHS Hero Award

  • Julie Wilson, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust
  • Nicki Henderson
  • Dr Jevan Taylor, Alexandra Hospital

The Care Home Worker or Team Award

  • The Gables Rest Home
  • Liam Clements, Goodwin Care Services
  • Radfield Home Care

The Health Care Employer Award

  • Acorns Children's Hospice
  • Ashwell Home Care Services
  • DKL Health Care Ltd

The Good Nurse Award

  • Claire Smith, Birmingham Children's Hospital
  • Kitty Morgan, Bewdley Medical Centre
  • Mandy Burgwin, Circle Health Group

The Child or Adolescent Health Care Award

  • Kemp Hospice
  • Kim Philpotts, What Makes You Different Makes You Beautiful
  • ONSIDE Independent Advocacy

The Dementia Carer or Team Award

  • Joanna Wier, Alzheimer's Society
  • Kim Henshaw, Ashwell Home Care Services
  • Sue Robinson, Ashwell Home Care Services

The Mental Health Award

  • Behind The Smile
  • Caring for Communities and People
  • Worcester Samaritans

GP Practice of the Year Award

  • St Martin's Gate Surgery
  • Upton Surgery
  • Wolverley Surgery

The Domiciliary Care Worker or Team Award

  • Bluebird Care Bromsgrove & Redditch
  • Gary Lingham, Ashwell Home Care Services
  • Marie Cooney, Care Force Ltd

Oral Health Care Professional of the Year

  • Dr Gurpreet Nandra, Malvern Hills Dental Care
  • Dr Sukhvir Lyall, Upton Dental Surgery
  • Malvern Hills Dental Care

The awards are organised by Newsquest - publishers of the Worcester News, Malvern Gazette, Evesham Journal, Bromsgrove & Droitwich Advertiser, Kidderminster Shuttle and Redditch Advertiser.

Editor of the Worcester News Stephanie Preece said: "Well done to all the finalists. The standard of entries was higher than ever this year and it just proves how incredible our health and social care professionals are here in Worcestershire.

"It's going to be a fantastic evening when we hear who has won each award."

This year's judging panel comprised of: 

Sally Gregory - Managing Director of Fostering at Aspris Fostering Services;  Lisa McNally - Director of Public Health for Worcestershire; Dr Matt Lamb - Deputy Mayor of Worcester; Donna Saunders - Worcester Group Coordinator for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society; and Stephanie Preece - Editor of Newsquest Worcestershire.

The winners of the 2024 awards will be announced at a black-tie dinner at the Bank House Hotel, in Bransford on Thursday, September 19.