PATIENTS in Suffolk can nominate their healthcare heroes today.

Rebecca Lefort

PATIENTS in Suffolk can nominate their healthcare heroes today.

The People's Award for Dignity in Care is a new honour which recognises healthcare workers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Now the organisers, at the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, are looking for healthcare heroes who listen to patients' concerns, consider their unique needs and work to improve their experience of being treated in the county.

It is a chance for the thousands of people every year who receive exceptional care to say “thank-you”.

Individuals and teams can be nominated and all care-giving employees are eligible - from doctors and nurses to porters and physiotherapists.

Ipswich Hospital chief executive Andrew Reed said he was pleased the awards would give people the opportunity to nominate staff who went the extra mile.

He said: “We are fortunate to have an outstanding team here at Ipswich Hospital and I'm delighted to regularly receive letters of thanks from patients and their relatives.

“These awards are a chance for the people locally known as heroes to be recognised on a national scale.”

To make a nomination visit www.institute.nhs.uk/dignity2009 or call 0870 000 1100.

Have you received excellent care for health workers in Suffolk? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

WHEN Luke Hilton was born his doting parents were thrilled with the care he received from Ipswich Hospital.

So five years later Stephen Hilton and Charlotte Read were over-the-moon when the same consultant gynecologist who delivered their son, Graham Sellars, also delivered their daughter, Lola-May, last month.

Both children are now thriving - despite minor complications at their births which meant Luke was delivered by caesarean section and Lola-May with forceps - and the family said they were excessively grateful to the professionalism and skill of Mr Sellars.

Mr Hilton, 36, of Billberry Road, Ravenswood, said: “When Charlotte needed help delivering our daughter it was wonderful to see Mr Sellars arrive. We looked at each other and felt really pleased about it.

“He is so efficient, effective and fast. What Mr Sellars doesn't know about gynaecology isn't worth knowing!”

Mr Hilton said he now hoped South African-born locum consultant Mr Sellars would be on hand if he ever had more children.

He added: “We couldn't have asked for more from him, and the midwife, Susan Martin.

“We want to say a big thank you to them all.”