Celebrating a lifetime of excellence

2008 marks the 60th Anniversary of the NHS. Dramatic stages of reform since 1997 are moving towards a health service characterised by free choice across a wide range of providers. Levels of investment in staff, facilities and technology remain high. Reflecting on days gone by, Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson commented: “Hardly anyone now dies from tuberculosis - once our biggest killer - and deaths from cancer and heart disease have fallen dramatically. Britain is one of the safest places in the world to give birth.
    
“Many factors have contributed to these successes, but the key was the creation of a comprehensive health service that brought together prevention, diagnosis and treatment in an umbrella organisation for the first time.”
    
Looking to the future, Lord Darzi’s Next Stage Review entitled High Quality Care For All outlines plans for a health service that empowers staff and gives more choice and more information to patients. It recommends that healthcare is personalised and fair, makes use of the most effective treatments within a safe system, and helps patients to stay healthy.

Rewarding success
Despite the outstanding progress the NHS has made over the years and this positive outlook on the future of our health service, most of what we here from the media is where things go wrong; over spending, long waiting times, staff shortages, the list goes on. The Health Business awards aims to lift this negative cloud surrounding the NHS and celebrate all that is great about our health service.
    
Following the inaugural event last year, the 2008 Health Business Awards will continue to showcase NHS success stories. The Awards will recognise and celebrate the significant contributions made each year by organisations that work inside and alongside the NHS.
    
The award categories incorporate facilities, technology, human resources, hospital management and transport as well as the Outstanding Achievement in Healthcare award, which will be awarded to an NHS organisation that has achieved sustained success in its role and brought benefits to the wider NHS through the dedication and expertise of it staff.
    
New for 2008 is the Hospital Catering Award, which will go to an NHS Trust that has delivered outstanding improvements in food service and nutritional standards.
    
The 2008 Health Business Awards, to be held at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in London on 11 December, will be presented by Dr Hilary Jones. Hilary is one of the UK’s most recognisable medical experts. Since joining TVAM in 1990, he has appeared on all manner of consumer television programmes, including ‘The Health Show’, which he co-presented with Terry Wogan, and three series of ‘Loud and Clear’, a medical show for Meridian. He continues to present regular morning spots on ‘GMTV’.

The venue
Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium is a spectacular venue, which has been named Business Venue of the Year at the annual Visit London Awards – an open vote amongst event industry professionals from around London, with Emirates Stadium up against established venues such as ExCel, The Barbican and Earl’s Court.
    
Away from its matchday schedule, the home of Arsenal has hosted nearly 1,000 business events with a great deal of success. “Our vision has always been that Emirates Stadium would be known for more than just fantastic football. We want it to become a London landmark,” said managing director Keith Edelman
    
A drinks reception and greeting at 12.00pm will be followed by a three-course lunch, served prior to the awards ceremony. Attendees will be from the shortlisted organsaitions and award sponsors will be in attendance.

The awards

• Hospital Building Award
• Hospital Procurement Award
• Hospital Cleaning Award 
• Hospital Security Award
• Ambulance Trust of the Year
• Transport Logistics Award
• Healthcare IT Award
• Telehealth Award
• NHS Website of the Year
• NHS Publicity Campaign Award
• Environmental Practice Award 
• London Travel Planning Award
• Hospital Catering Award
• Outstanding Achievement in Healthcare Award – Awarded to an individual working on behalf of an NHS organisation that has achieved success in their role and brought benefits to the wider NHS through their dedication and expertise.