Claudia Winkleman, Christine Lampard and Tyrone Mings revealed as judges for our Who Cares Wins awards
YOU sent us your incredible tales of health heroes in your droves – and now we can introduce you to the brilliant judges who will crown our champions.
Who Cares Wins, sponsored by the National Lottery, is our annual celebration of the heroes who work or volunteer in the healthcare sector.
This year we had hundreds of entries and now our eight-strong panel face the task of picking the worthiest winners.
The Sun’s Editor-in-chief Victoria Newton said: “Our Who Cares Wins health awards are one of the most important nights in our calendar.
“This year, at the front of our minds will be the memory of our dear colleague and friend Dame Deborah James, who we lost in June.
"She was a judge for Who Cares Wins for many years and launched this year’s awards.
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“This year’s nominees embody much of her generous and inspiring spirit, and by honouring them we will pay her tribute as well.”
Our winners will be honoured at the London ceremony hosted by Davina McCall and on Channel 4 next month.
Like many of us, our judges are in awe of Britain’s health heroes – and here they explain why they’re honoured to be involved with Who Cares Wins.
ELLIE ORTON — Chief Executive, NHS Charities Together, our charity partner for Who Cares Wins
ALMOST every one of us has a memory of how the NHS has helped us at some point in our lives — both at the happiest and hardest moments.
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We each have our own, very personal, reasons to say thank you — and these awards are a chance for us to recognise the incredible people who look after us and our families.
Since the pandemic, our NHS workforce has continued to face immense challenges, with increasing pressure on services and lengthy waiting lists. And we know the challenges won’t stop there.
But despite these extraordinary circumstances, the workforce has taken this all in their stride and provided excellent care.
And though it’s impossible for us to be able to honour every untold story, we look forward to hearing about all the exceptional doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, surgeons, volunteers, researchers and charity workers and more who have made a difference to your lives.
CHRISTINE LAMPARD — TV presenter
WE all appreciated our NHS, health workers and volunteers pre-Covid, but never have we been more grateful to them than now.
And this awards ceremony is probably more poignant than it has ever been. Medics and health workers haven’t had it easy — they all deserve an award.
These awards are a lovely pat on the back for people who deserve it. And I think that’s so important.
I’m delighted that my three-year-old daughter Patricia wants to follow in the footsteps of our NHS heroes.
All she talks about is doctors — she has her little doctor’s case and stethoscope and always wants to “make us better”. But really, there is no one better to look up to.
The last time I went to the awards the chats I had in the loos with the family members of people involved were lovely.
It’s such a wonderful night for the people that deserve it and that’s important now more than it’s ever been.
TYRONE MINGS — Aston Villa and England footballer
WHEN I attended the Who Cares Wins awards and handed out a prize last year I was blown away.
We were there to honour so many incredible people, from the paramedics who almost lost their lives attending an emergency call to the midwife who rushed to the aid of a new mum giving birth on a plane.
I was lucky enough to give the Young Hero award to seven-year-old Carmela Chillery-Watson.
She did not let her muscular dystrophy stop her raising £100,000 towards funding research into the condition by walking hundreds of miles dressed as Wonder Woman.
People talk about footballers being role models for younger people, but I think the real role models are our health heroes — those who go the extra mile on behalf of the rest of us.
It is an honour to be a judge this year, although of course it will be very hard to choose between the very deserving nominees.
Every single one of them deserves a prize.
DR ZOE WILLIAMS — The Sun's resident GP
IT’S an absolute honour to be a judge this year for the Who Cares Wins awards.
As someone who has worked in the NHS, both as a doctor and as a healthcare assistant many years before attending medical school, I’ve witnessed first-hand the incredible hard work, selflessness and dedication that comes with the job.
There are so many individuals who go above and beyond and never expect to receive recognition for what they do.
But they absolutely deserve it and these awards are an incredible way to shine a light on some of the amazing people who hold up our wonderful NHS.
It provides a great opportunity for the public to be reminded of what a fantastic healthcare system we have.
It’s absolutely not perfect but, without a doubt, the people working in it are pretty incredible.
PENNY LANCASTER — Loose Women panellist
OUR health heroes are the real rock stars — they are the people who should inspire us all.
They battled coronavirus, are still tirelessly working under greater pressure than ever before and have even found time to help the victims of the war in Ukraine.
I’ve been a supporter of Who Cares Wins ever since it started in 2017 — and the incredible stories of heroism never fail to move me to tears.
We are so lucky to have these amazing people among us who so bravely try to help others at critical times and keep us safe and well.
Like everyone, my family and I have had to rely on the health service many times over the years.
Whether it was my son falling from a bannister or my dad needing emergency help when he had a heart attack, we are always so grateful that they are there for us in our time of need.
Now it’s time to say thank you.
It’s right that for this special night some of the most important people in our society will take centre stage.
ADAM KAY — Doctor turned best-selling author and comic
THE NHS has never been an easy place to work, but that has never been the case more than in the past couple of years.
We have seen the brilliant individuals who make up the health service going above and beyond to keep the rest of us on the road. Without their sacrifices, the whole thing could have collapsed.
Sometimes it feels like all you hear about the NHS is complaints, but really that is just the fault of the creaking system and not the incredible individuals who work within it and give so much.
It is wonderful to be able to say thank you. I only wish we could give a prize to every person who works within the NHS, or supports it in other ways.
There is no job in the health service that you go into for money or kudos. You do it because you want to make a difference and help people. It’s the most rewarding job in the world, but it’s still nice to give a little extra reward to some of the most exceptional heroes.
Who Cares Wins is always a highlight of my year. Some of the stories are heartbreaking, some are breathtaking, and all are profoundly moving.
CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN — Strictly Come Dancing host
THE NHS has never been an easy place to work, but that has never been the case more than in the past couple of years.
We have seen the brilliant individuals who make up the health service going above and beyond to keep the rest of us on the road. Without their sacrifices, the whole thing could have collapsed.
Sometimes it feels like all you hear about the NHS is complaints, but really that is just the fault of the creaking system and not the incredible individuals who work within it and give so much.
It is wonderful to be able to say thank you. I only wish we could give a prize to every person who works within the NHS, or supports it in other ways.
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There is no job in the health service that you go into for money or kudos. You do it because you want to make a difference and help people. It’s the most rewarding job in the world, but it’s still nice to give a little extra reward to some of the most exceptional heroes.
Who Cares Wins is always a highlight of my year. Some of the stories are heartbreaking, some are breathtaking, and all are profoundly moving.