STAFF at Poole Hospital who have gone “the extra mile” for patients could be in line for an award.

The hospital is seeking nominations for this year’s Poole Hospital Awards and is giving residents the chance to recognise staff who have provided exceptional care, support or customer service over the last year.

Nominees can be a nurse, doctor, midwife or a porter, or they may be someone who works behind the scenes and is essential to the smooth running of the hospital, volunteers, teams and fundraisers.

The trust is inviting patients, their relatives, the public and foundation trust members, as well as staff, to put an individual or team forward before the February 9 deadline.

Chairman Angela Schofield said: “I know from the many letters from grateful patients and relatives we receive each week that the staff and volunteers who bring Poole Hospital to life really do make a difference.

“The Poole Hospital Awards are an important way for us to hear about the contributions that these individuals and teams make on a consistent basis, putting patients and colleagues first every day.

“Last year doctors working in elderly medicine, nurses, a team providing end-of-life care and some exceptional fundraisers were among those who received awards. Many other staff in a huge range of roles were nominated.

“The stories behind these nominations are often inspirational and I look forward to hearing who our patients, staff and public think have gone the extra mile in these last 12 months.”

Nominations are being sought for volunteer of the year, employee of the year, service improvement individual and team, safer hospitals, patient care individual and team and fundraiser of the year for a team or individual.

They can be made online at poole.nhs.uk and forms are available at reception desks in the hospital and from 01202 263179 and must be received by midnight on February 9.