Inspiring winners of The Sun's 'Who Cares Wins' awards announced at lunchtime ceremony

The Sun's inaugural 'Who Cares Wins' awards, which recognise all those across the health service and beyond who do great work to care for patients, were handed out today (Wednesday) to some of the country's most inspiring health professionals and charities.

The Sun received hundreds of nominations from friends, family and former patients of NHS staff, volunteers and charity workers, with shortlists drawn up by our journalists. The judging panel, including Dr Dawn Harper, chose the winners.

The winners include:

• Best Midwife: Hilary Patterson, a Northern Irish woman who has spent some 11 years working with bereaved parents as they try for another baby
• Best Doctor: Dr David Crossland, a consultant paediatric doctor who performed successful open-heart surgery on a baby just minutes-old
• Best Nurse: Ruth White, a Great Ormond Street nurse who is credited with having 'magic hands' by the mother of one of her patients, young baby Tai
• Ultimate Lifesaver: The East of England Ambulance Service Teamwho delivered life-saving care to Storm Warner just metres from a burning car after a major car crash
• Groundbreaking pioneer or discovery: Dr Sanjeev Nayak, from the Royal Stoke Hospital, whose use of revolutionary thrombectomy treatment saved the life of 28-year-old Charlotte Smith and her unborn child
• Best volunteer: 86-year-old Basil Priest has spent three decades giving up his time to the Marie Curie Hospice in Penarth, South Wales, after the love of his life passed away in the same hospice in 1987. He was nominated by Linda Robson, Marie Curie ambassador and star of Birds of a Feather
• Best charity: Spread a Smile, based in north London, sends magicians, fairies, dogs and other entertainers into the wards of hospitals to make exceptionally sick children smile

In addition, three Special Recognition awards were given to:

• Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, for their part in treating victims of the Manchester Terror Attack
• Dr William Frankland, a 105-year-old Londoner who has dedicated his life to allergy research and who has published four papers in medical journals since his 100th birthday
• The family of Jemima Layzell, a 13-year-old girl who passed away as a result of a brain aneurysm in 2012, and whose organs have helped save the lives of eight people - a record.

Commenting on the awards, Christina Earle, Health Editor at The Sun, said:

These awards have been a wonderful celebration of the unsung heroes who, up and down the country, deliver care that goes above and beyond for their patients. Their selflessness is incredible and all of us at The Sun are so happy we can say thank you on behalf of our readers.”

Welcoming the awards, Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of the NHS, said:

The skill, dedication and commitment of NHS staff has been truly tested by events we've witnessed this year. The extraordinary response of our emergency services to the terrorist attacks in London and Manchester, along with the Grenfell Tower tragedy - with staff often running towards danger to help others - is rightly a matter of national pride.

So it's great that The Sun is taking the time to recognise and honour our brilliant staff and their achievements."