Patients, families and carers who’ve received outstanding care from the NHS are being given the opportunity to nominate healthcare professionals for a special award.
Nominations for the Patient’s Choice Award at the 2026 Star Awards, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust’s staff recognition event, are now open.
The nominees are picked by members of the public, with the award recognising an individual or team who have shown kindness and compassion in the care they have provided to a patient or their loved ones.
Last year’s winners of the award were the critical care team, who were nominated by the family of a patient who sadly passed away in 2024.
In their nomination, the family member said that their sister was treated with dignity and respect, and that the team reduced their stress and anxiety by ensuring that the family understood complex medical information and were involved in every decision regarding her treatment.
Diane Wake, Group Chief Executive of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust said: “Our annual Star Awards are a great chance to celebrate staff who work across all our sites and out in the community, and the Patient’s Choice Award is a fantastic opportunity for members of the public to highlight the care they’ve received.
“I know this particular award is very special to staff who work at the Trust, who can be confident that their care has made a difference in the lives of our patients and their families.”
Chair of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust Sir David Nicholson said: “It is very important for us to recognise the work of healthcare professionals, and these awards are just one of the ways that we give back to our staff.
“If you or a loved one has received excellent care and support over the last 12 months, I would encourage you to submit a nomination as it will truly mean a lot to the individual or team who will be awarded the Patient’s Choice Award on the night.”
The deadline to submit a nomination form is 13 March. Nominations can be made online by clicking here.
The Star Awards 2026 will take place on 10 July at Aston Villa Football Club, and the winning individual or team will be publicly announced on the night.