Entries have been coming in thick and fast for the Buckinghamshire Health & Social Care Awards - and there’s still plenty of time to put nominees forward.

For the past 12 months, emergency services and health workers across Bucks have put their community first, selflessly caring for the ill and most vulnerable at great psychological and personal cost. Now is your chance to return the favour and honour these everyday heroes.

From intensive care doctors tackling Covid-19 head-on to volunteers making sure no-one, especially the most isolated, falls through the net during lockdown, we want to hear the untold stories of ordinary people responding to this unprecedented crisis in extraordinary ways.

Dr Reidy and Partners have been nominated for the GP Practice of the Year award by Hilary Ling Hide, who said: “During the pandemic, they have kept the surgery open, as well as offering telephone and on-line consultations.

“The receptionists have been very helpful and informative. People can ring up without fearing they will be brushed aside.”

Deborah Robb has been nominated for the Good Nurse award by Stuart Berry.

Debora works part time at Stoke Mandeville, eye outpatients, ward 14/eye casualty and Amersham AMD unit.

Mr Berry said “Not only does she do a variety of jobs in her working day throughout the week she also takes the time to contact staff who are shielding and not able to work at the moment.

“Personally Deborah has made a big difference to me. I’m one of the staff shielding and to receive a call or message makes me feel valued and missed.

“She also makes sure I’m ok for shopping offering to go if I’m unable to.”

There are 12 categories, including Volunteer of the Year, Unsung Hero in the Community, the Dementia Carer award, Mental Heath award and the Care Home Worker award.

Nominations are now open at bucksfreepress.co.uk/awards.

Andrew Colley, the editor of the Bucks Free Press, said: “The people who work in the health and social care industry have always been an inspiration, not just during the pandemic, and these awards are our way of thanking them for their incredible dedication and skill.

“I would urge all of our readers to nominate an individual or team, to show them how much you appreciate everything they do. Or if you think you fit the bill, then you can nominate yourself.

“We’ll be profiling nominees in our newspapers and on our websites, to recognise their amazing work.”

Finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges and the winners will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony broadcast live on our Facebook page in May.