THE unsung heroes working behind the scenes at the county’s NHS hospitals will be celebrated for a third time this year.

The Oxford Mail has teamed up with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust (OUHT) for another year to celebrate the extraordinary work of its hospital workers.

Nominations for this year’s Hospital Heroes awards are now open and readers are invited to tell us who has made a real difference in their lives.

OUHT chief executive Sir Jonathan Michael said: “Our four hospitals employ over 11,500 staff, who work incredibly hard to care for hundreds of thousands of people each year.

“Our staff offer excellent care and support to patients and their families, during what is often a very difficult and challenging time. They also share in some families’ happiest moments.

“Every year, the Oxford Mail Hospital Heroes awards highlight stories of extraordinary compassion, determination and dedication by our staff, along with experiences of remarkable courage and inspirational spirit shown by people treated at Oxford University Hospitals.

“We take pride in our hospital care, we are proud of the people who work in them, and are delighted the Oxford Mail is once again helping to recognise staff who go beyond the call of duty.”

The campaign to find the county’s medical champions was launched in 2013, to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the NHS.

Readers have the chance to nominate staff working across the trust’s sites, from nurses, midwives, porters, consultants, healthcare assistant, volunteer and all those behind-the-scenes.

The trust runs Oxford’s John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals, as well as the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and Banbury’s Horton Hospital.

Nominations for people who have transformed the lives of patients are open in two categories, the Hospital Heroes Individual Award and the Hospital Heroes Team award.

Readers have two months to name their Hospital Hero of 2015, before a shortlist is announced later in October.

Oxford Mail editor Simon O’Neill and incoming OUHT chief executive Bruno Holthof, who will replace Sir Michael later this year, will then have the difficult task of selecting the winners, who will be announced at a glittering ceremony in December.

More than 150 hospital workers from across the county united at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History last December to praise medical staff who went above and beyond to support patients.

Mother-of-two Louise Sansom nominated paediatric oncology outreach nurse specialist Zoe Hines for the Hospital Heroes individual award last year.

She praised the nurse for helping to care for her four-year-old daughter Ella Maylor, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2013.

Miss Sansom said: “I think it was such a surprise when she actually became one of the finalists.

“It just made me feel pleased that she was getting recognised for her job and the difference that she had on us as a family.

“We can’t say enough thank-yous. It’s not possible to thank someone enough, someone who has had a part in saving your child’s life. She gave us so much support emotionally as well.”

Miss Sansom said the family would have been “lost” without Mrs Hines, who has provided ongoing support since Ella left hospital last January.

Although the youngster is now in remission, she faces chemotherapy sessions until March 2016 to maintain her current condition.

Miss Sansom added: “I would definitely encourage people to nominate. The hospital employees see people every day but they can have such an effect on people’s lives, perhaps without even realising it.

“It’s important to show you appreciate what they do every day.

“Without her it would have been horrible. I think we would have felt a lot more lost. The last few months have been quite difficult with Ella and Zoe has still been there.”