HEALTH care staff from across Powys have been honoured at the health board’s annual awards.

The NHS body said it received a record number of nominations from former patients, colleagues and friends eager to recognise excellent work across the county.

Awards in 11 categories were given out at the event at the Royal Welsh Showground by chair of the board Professor Vivienne Harpwood and chief executive Carol Shillabeer, who was recognised for 30-years’ of service in Powys.

The Staff Excellence Awards includes a special Powys Stars category, nominated and voted for by the public. This year’s Powys Stars was tied, with Paediatric Diabetes Nurse Specialist Beth Hughes and Engagement Officer Mandy Mills being crowned joint winners, both receiving 376 votes each.

Mother-of-two from Bronllys Mandy Mills scooped joint winner after receiving several nominations for the award. Colleagues recognised her for raising more than £10,000 in two years for a variety of cancer specific charities.

Mandy also scooped runner-up award in the Most Supportive Colleague category.

The grandmother-of-one accepted the award from Mrs Shillabeer, who said: “Mandy received multiple nominations from colleagues. She is a kind a caring engagement officer but also works her socks off for charity by baking and selling cakes.”

Mandy said she was “humbled” to be recognised in the awards.

Each winner was shown a video clip featuring the person who nominated them for the awards explaining why they deserve recognition.

The Ystradgynlais Making Every Contact Count Team won the first new category introduced this year, Equality, Diversity and Welsh Language. Nominated by Integrated Clinical Team Manager for South Powys Nigel Broad for their efforts in developing and maintaining community links in Ystradgynlais.

The team made up of community resource team nurse Christina Thomas and healthcare support workers Kimberley Griffiths and Julie Ace, have been busy promoting health initiatives by hosting information and blood pressures stations at Ystradgynlais Community Hospital and the town supermarket. Kimberley said: “By taking the blood pressure stations into the community and work places we were able to advise people on the risks of high blood pressure and offer guidance on living a healthy life.”

Paediatric disability nurse Jayne Snare and senior clinical psychologist Caroline Jones’ continuous commitment to working closely with a number of agencies including child and adolescent mental health services, paediatrics and other to ensure smooth and effective communication was recognised with the Seamlessly Working Together Award.

The video to announce the winner of the Most Supportive Colleague award to Knighton nurse Julie Watts left the packed auditorium in tears, as complex care district nurse Rachel Jones described Mrs Watts as “more than just a nurse”.

District nurse Ms Watts accepted the award with tears in her eyes and said: “There were so many nominations. I definitely didn’t see this coming. Without the support I get from colleagues I wouldn’t be able to do my job. This award is for the whole team, we are all winners.”

The NHS relies on the voluntary sector to help provide community health and care support services and the role they play in local towns was highlighted at the awards ceremony. Cancer charity the Bracken Trust scooped the Volunteers Award, after Louise Mead of the Builth Wells district nurse team nominated the social trust committee.

She said: “Through many local and outreach activities they promote awareness of the support available for people affected by cancer, their families, carers and bereaved and thoroughly deserve to have won the award.”

Winners and runners up from the Powys Awards will now be considered for the nation-wide NHS Wales Awards 2018, which celebrate health staff and partners across the country.