Teachers, volunteers and healthcare professionals all received deserved recognition for their dedication to keeping west Essex healthy and making a positive impact on our local communities.

Angie Pearson, a professional counsellor with Waltham Abbey Youth 2000, received the overall Best of West Award due to her outstanding commitment to making a difference to the local health and wellbeing economy. Angie has spent 17 years working tirelessly to help young people deal with and overcome any issues affecting their lives.

Stellar Healthcare, in conjunction with Uttlesford Health and West Essex CCG took the Best Primary Care award for delivering the Evening and Weekend GP service which has seen over 30,000 patients since it started last October.

The Volunteer of the Year Award went to Tim Atkinson, a local musician in Saffron Walden with the Best Team or Project going to Paul Goddard and Kelly Rowland, for assisting stroke patients with their exercise classes at the Lord Butler Centre.

Meanwhile the Pharmaceutical Care Award went to joint winners North Weald Chemist and the Harlow Pharmacy for their exceptional customer service and care.

Diabetic nurse practitioner, Vikki Griffin from SEPT, was applauded for her compassion and respect for her patients and their families as she took the Leading with Care, Compassion and Respect Award. Johanna Gill was chosen as the winner of the Caring Together prize due to her enthusiasm and dedication to develop and integrate the Macmillan Carers project as a resource for both carers and health and care professionals across Epping, Harlow and Uttlesford.

George Sydes, a teacher at Little Hallingbury was awarded the Best Health Educator for throwing his heart and soul into changing attitudes towards physical education and an Epping foster mum Claire Toteman took the Celebrating Diversity prize for fostering over 100 children, many with special needs.

Accountable Officer at NHS West Essex CCG Deborah Fielding said: “These awards are an excellent way of showcasing the talent and dedication of people in west Essex. Huge congratulations to the winners of the Best of West Awards 2016 and everyone who made the shortlist.

“We received some fantastic nominations and the judging panel had to make some very difficult decisions. The nominations showed how lucky we are to have such inspirational people working and living in west Essex. I would like to say thank you on behalf of the CCG and the Board.”

The awards were presented by Stephen King, lay member of the board at NHS West Essex CCG during a ceremony that ended with the presentation of over long service awards including Dr Ken Menon who has given over 40 years of service to the NHS.

Before the awards, the CCG’s Annual General Meeting took place which detailed progress made in local health and care services over the past year, how local money has been invested and gave a brief preview of plans for the future.