The judges who convened last year to decide the winners of the Hereford Times Health and Social Awards 2019 were deeply impressed by the range and quality of entries.

Time after time they read of outstanding care delivered by individuals and staff with compassion, dignity and love.

It was routine to read examples of carers going well above and beyond the call of duty for their clients.

It reinforced to the judges, the organisers and sponsors of the awards that they were highlighting the wonderful work of the care teams in our county.

But during their judging and reviewing the success of the awards, some judges felt that a prime area was missing.

And so this year there is a new category in the awards, to highlight the work going on in the specialised field of children’s care (under 19s).

It’s a wide field to choose from.

Entries might come from among pediatricians or nurses and staff working with children in a hospital setting.

Or they could come from a private care setting, or there are children and adolescents with complex needs who may be getting visits at home.

It could be an organization, department, a charity, or an individual doctor, nurse, carer, volunteer, support worker.

The winners could be providing physical treatment, or mental health, social, emotional or behavioural support. They could be offering assessments and intervention.

The judges, as ever, are made up or representatives of the Hereford Times and the sponors, packed with professional expertise.

This year we are grateful to the following for their continued support and for helping to decide the eventual winners: University of Worcester, Herefordshire Council, Wye Valley NHS Trust, Limbco Ltd, Rotherwood Healthcare, Hfd & Worcester Clinical Commissions Group, Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust, Hoople, Katherine Harriet, (Lisa Collins)

And just a reminder, this is last year’s roll of honour: Care Team: Altogether Care; Care Hero: Gary Meddings, Services for Independent Living; Care Home Worker: Sadie Harris, Coldwells House Care Home; Domicilary care worker: Vicky Davies, Bluebird Care; Good Nurse: Cheryl Poole, Community Dementia Nurse, Wye Valley NHS Trust; GP Practice of the Year: Fownhope Medical Centre; Care Trainer: Jessica Dunn, Katherine Harriett Bespoke Home Care; Dignity in Care: Lorraine Quinn, Kemble At Home; Dementia Carer: Anne Parsons, Ross-on-Wye Meeting Centre; Palliative/end of life Award: Tony Blower, St Michael's Hospice; Mental Health Award: Becky Cook, The Courtyard Centre for the Arts; Care Employer: Kemble At Home.