Residents in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, can now nominate hospital staff for special awards to recognise their hard work and dedication. The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust opened nominations for its sixth annual Shine Awards on 26 February 2026.
People have until 11:59 pm on Sunday, 26 April 2026 to submit their nominations for individuals or teams who have provided exceptional care. There are 10 different categories this year, including a brand-new award for Volunteer of the Year to celebrate community support.
The awards come as Southend University Hospital finishes work on its new paediatric assessment unit and children’s entrance, which are opening in March 2026. This project is part of a larger 8.5 million pound expansion of the emergency department to improve local services.
Local staff are already receiving national attention, as three porters from the hospital were named as finalists in a separate national awards scheme earlier this month. These celebrations provide a boost for the workforce while the trust manages an 85 million pound budget deficit for the 2025-2026 financial year.
Patients, families, and colleagues are all invited to take part in the nomination process to highlight those who go above and beyond. Dawn Scrafield, the trust chief executive, will lead the judging panel for the event.
