DEDICATED staff were honoured as primary care in south Essex was celebrated.

The annual NHS quality awards took place on Tuesday at Saxon Hall, on Aviation Way, Southend, as awards were handed out in seven categories to winners and runner ups.

The awards, organised by Castle Point and Rochford Clinical Commissioning Group, and Southend’s CCG, honour the dedication and commitment of staff to their patients in GP practices across the area.

Tricia D’Orsi, chief nurse, at both commissioning groups, said: “Hosting the quality awards demonstrates that we are incredibly fortunate to have some fantastic staff working in our local GP practices.

“Too often, the staff working in GP practices go unnoticed and it is important to focus on the people who have worked so hard and to share best practice with others.

“I would like to congratulate all staff that were successful in winning a Quality Award.”

Highlights included the Diabetes Team at Canvey’s Third Avenue Surgery, which scooped the Excellence in Primary Care, after ensuring 80 of 400 diabetes patients are now in remission.

While huge praise was heaped on the Queensway Eco Warrior at Southend’s Queensway surgery.

The team won the Wellbeing at Work award, with the group focussed on environmental issues. It has introduced a new scheme encouraging the use of sustainable materials where possible, as well as pushing recycling, awareness of energy use and reducing the surgery’s carbon footprint by installing bicycle racks.

Winners and runners up in each category were:

Excellence in Primary Care Award

Winner - Diabetes Team, Third Avenue Surgery,

Runners up - Anthony Smith and Paul Manjaly, West Leigh Primary Care Network

Future NHS Award

Winner - Rebecca O’Shea, Pall Mall Surgery

Runner up - Christine Lloyd, Central Surgery, Southchurch

Care and Compassion Award

Winners - Jill Lewis, High Road Family Doctors, Benfleet. The Admin Team, Hawkesbury Road Surgery, Canvey

Health Equalities Award

Winner - Jeanette Lear, Queensway Surgery, Southend

Runner up - Allyson McKinnon, West Road Surgery, Westcliff

Wellbeing at Work Award

Winner - Queensway Eco Warriors, Queensway Surgery, Southend

Runner up - Dr Chana, Dr Khan and Partners, Rushbottom Lane Surgery, Benfleet

People’s Choice Award

Winner - Dr Alex Shaw, Highlands Surgery, Leigh

Runner up - Sriyani Mellon, Valkyrie Surgery, Westcliff

Lifetime Achievement Award

Winners - Dr Javed Ghauri, Dr Rupert Halliday, Dr Michael Jack, Dr Sathanandan, Dr Jayatilaka, Dr Jayaweera, Dr Nanda, Janice Palmer, registered nurse