The Cornwall Health & Social Care Awards winners have finally been announced!

Over the past few weeks, people have been voting for their healthcare heroes and now the winners have been crowned in yesterday's ceremony held on The Packet's Facebook page yesterday.

The awards were held to celebrate our incredible front line workers such as nurses, GPs, emergency services, care workers, teachers, shop workers, fundraisers or even neighbours who have put themselves before others over the past 18 months during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The winners of each category are as follows, with a short extract from those who nominated them:

Falmouth Packet: Sharon Keast - Hillcrest Nursing Home.Sharon Keast - Hillcrest Nursing Home.

Health and Social Care Employer Award: Sharon Keast - Hillcrest Nursing Home.

"As the coronavirus crisis took hold and chaos ensued in care homes across the country, Sharon was keen to keep the spirits of her staff and residents high. With Caring and Compassionate Leadership Sharon worked 12 hour shifts seven days a week to make sure her staff and the residents were safe, and their relatives were reassured. We all depend on the resilience of nurses and carers in care homes and their ability to deal with everything being thrown at them and still return the next day to do it all over again. This could not happen without strong leadership and this is what Sharon does day in, day out with no complaints. The gratitude she has shown is a constant reminder to them that they were and are making a difference, sometimes with limited resources early in the pandemic."

Watch the virtual awards ceremony below

Falmouth Packet: GP Practice of the Year: Mullion Health CentreGP Practice of the Year: Mullion Health Centre

GP Practice of the Year: Mullion Health Centre

"I would like to nominate my local health care practice, Mullion Health Centre, for their dedication, commitment and continued efficiency throughout the pandemic. Some of their staff including receptionists, have travelled to Helston for which to assist in the Covid vaccine rollout, whilst still administering vaccines at Mullion Health Centre itself. They have adapted wonderfully to the challenge of seeing patients whilst putting in place efficient safety measures against virus transmission. They have continued with medical procedures in the practice, and spent extra time on phone call appointments, and they always send out reminders for appointments. I feel they have been challenged enormously as they only have a small building in which to work. They all remain so helpful and cheerful for which I and my elderly mother are very grateful."

Falmouth Packet: Adolescent and Child Health Care Award: Finn Mitchell - Finn's ArmyAdolescent and Child Health Care Award: Finn Mitchell - Finn's Army

Adolescent and Child Health Care Award: Finn Mitchell - Finn's Army

"Finn's army mission is to bring some light into the lives of very ill and life limited kids in Cornwall via an Ipad lending library and so much more. Finn suffered with a brain tumour when he was a young boy after treatment at great Ormond street he then decided to give back and they set up Finn's army."

Falmouth Packet: Health Care Team Award: Philiphaugh Care Team - Philiphaugh Manor Care HomeHealth Care Team Award: Philiphaugh Care Team - Philiphaugh Manor Care Home

Health Care Team Award: Philiphaugh Care Team - Philiphaugh Manor Care Home

"I believe our care team should win this award for their dedication, commitment and passion to caring for our family of residents. I strongly believe this has been highlighted throughout the pandemic, through the uncertainties and at times worry this bought to everyone. I write with pride that our home has stayed united, and has kept our residents at the heart of this always. They demonstrate very strong team work and this 'family feel' is reflected throughout the whole home. I feel communication is excellent which in turn meets everyone's emotional and physical needs. Our team has stayed hardworking and loyal throughout the pandemic. I am extremely proud to work at Philiphaugh Manor which is run by Ablecare. We will be holding a garden party in August to celebrate the team and welcome visitors in once again. Thank you for this opportunity. "

Falmouth Packet: Jenny TrinderJenny Trinder

The Care Worker Award: Jenny Trinder - Motor Neuron Disease team

"Jenny Trinder and her team were nothing short of fantastic. My brother was diagnosed last year in March, and Jenny arrived as soon as I had contacted her with all the information we needed about this terrible disease. We were then visited by herself, initially and then the entire team. All through the pandemic they came in their PPE, and their wonderful, caring and skilled nature was so helpful to both my brother myself and our families. Jenny was a fantastic team leader, bringing in the correct people with the right skills at the right time. She coordinated the teams brilliantly and they were all fantastic in their help and support. Having a specialist team meant we had all aspects of the disease and its progression covered. Even to the end when we had the support of the Marie Curie nurses and out of hours Doctors. We are so grateful."

Falmouth Packet:

999 Award: Cornwall Air Ambulance

"For the fantastic and fast response times to remote parts of Cornwall which saves lives and means urgent medical treatment can be administered to those critically injured

Falmouth Packet: Best Young Fundraiser: Freddie Gwilliams - Children's Hospice SWBest Young Fundraiser: Freddie Gwilliams - Children's Hospice SW

Best Young Fundraiser: Freddie Gwilliams - Children's Hospice SW

"Freddie is an 11 year old boy from Helston who despite not being able to walk unaided has just finished a 30 day sponsored walk for the Children's Hospice South West! Life isn't particularly easy for Freddie, since day one he's fought huge battles and his list of health conditions grows scarily fast. He can't walk, can't talk, his spine is bending. His brain doesn't let him function at a 10 year old level leaving him with severe learning difficulties, he needs night time ventilation, he has intestinal failure so has had his large bowel removed and suffers from recurrent pancreatitis. Freddie currently spends 12 hours a day hooked up to a pump that feeds directly into his small intestine, then spends the other 12 hours hooked up to a TPN feeding pump feeding into his heart. He needs constant 24/7 care and at any minute he could become very unwell.

Falmouth Packet: Beset Key Worker Award: Greg Messam - Karrek Community CICBeset Key Worker Award: Greg Messam - Karrek Community CIC

Best Key Worker Award: Greg Messam - Karrek Community CIC

"Greg Messam has worked for Karrek as a support worker for a number of years and has always been a complete asset to the company. He regularly goes beyond his remit to support clients and staff. His patience with the more challenging aspects of the job is always met with kindness, gentleness and consideration. He shows great compassion towards everyone around him, putting their needs before his own. When an employees partner was recently taken ill, he dropped everything to take them both to the hospital and make sure that they were okay. This reflect working in person centred way. In the time that Greg has been working for Karrek, he has moved up from support worker, to team leader, and recently to Care Manager. His compassionate approach and genuine care for people made him an obvious choice for the managerial role. He manages to balance his managerial roles with his care work with a combination of skills that is rare.

Falmouth Packet: Unsung Hero Award: Keith Haley - Coombe House ResidentialUnsung Hero Award: Keith Haley - Coombe House Residential

Unsung Hero Award: Keith Haley - Coombe House Residential

Keith has worked for Coombe House for just over a year. At that time, he had recently lost his wife of many years and was at a low point. He is incredibly willing, and able to turn his hand to anything. He is loved by all the staff and is very sweet and kind and helpful with our residents. The match has been extremely beneficial to both parties : Keith has found a job he loves, and a team of people who value and respect him, while Coombe has found an invaluable and wonderful member of the team. It is fair to say that Keith comes to work every day with a smile and is always willing to turn his hand to any task that he is asked to do. Keith came to work at Coombe at a very difficult time for him personally, and also for a small care home working hard to survive a global pandemic. His contribution has been nothing short of heroic, but it often goes under the radar. We can think of no-one better to win an Unsung hero Award!

Falmouth Packet: The Good Nurse Award: Tracey Hembrough - Atlantic MedicalThe Good Nurse Award: Tracey Hembrough - Atlantic Medical

The Good Nurse Award: Tracey Hembrough - Atlantic Medical

"Vaccinated fishermen at pop up clinic with more than 90 fishermen turning up to get vaccinated"

Falmouth Packet: Hero of the Year Award: Katy Hutchinson - Stay at Home CornwallHero of the Year Award: Katy Hutchinson - Stay at Home Cornwall

Hero of the Year Award: Katy Hutchinson - Stay at Home Cornwall, The CHAOS Group

"Team CHAOS demonstrate the diversity within health and social care and the wider impact and reach into community. Being person-centred ranges from helping someone start their day to helping someone find their feet when suffering from addiction or homelessness. The impact has been massive for the beneficiaries and staff teams and has helped develop our support network, giving a greater insight into the wider health and social care sector in Cornwall and Isles of Silly. From the ladies who have received some "me" time in Iconic and the dads, who are often forgotten, have some "men outside" time at the farm doing bushcraft activities and cooking over an open fire to the old folk who loved seeing the therapy ponies and dogs who came to visit them.                            Collaborating and sharing resources with other providers has been transformational to our organisation and staff. Improved staff wellbeing and job satisfaction. Working together gave a more efficient use of overall staff capacity, bringing a multitude of positive outcomes that has had far reaching impact.