00:00Hello there, my name is Rachel Emery and I'm the Scotland's political correspondent.
00:03I'm joined here today by Health Secretary Neil Gray to officially launch Scotland's Health Awards 2025.
00:09Now the awards are not actually until the 6th of November, but nominations are now officially open.
00:14So how about we start off, do you want to tell me how you feel about getting the opportunity today to launch these awards?
00:19The NHS is all about people, obviously the people that we seek to serve, but also the people that deliver the services.
00:25And it's absolutely critical that we give the due recognition to the incredible work that has been done by the people across health and care services in Scotland.
00:34So the health awards are about doing exactly that.
00:37And I'm delighted to be able to say that nominations are open and really encourage everybody to come forward with nominations across all of the categories.
00:46We've got two new categories this year and make sure we really recognise the incredible work that goes on,
00:51and sometimes in challenging circumstances, to deliver the best possible care for the people of Scotland.
00:56Do you want to give me a sense about how much this means to the staff and the volunteers?
01:01How much does it mean to those out in the service?
01:03I think it's critical that we do give due recognition to the incredible work that goes on.
01:08I think they are under pressure in many parts of the system.
01:11They are delivering services sometimes in challenging circumstances.
01:15And do so without that hope or expectation of recognition.
01:20They do so because of the vocation and the service that they're delivering.
01:24But I think it's important that for us as a society that we do give that recognition.
01:29We do pass on our gratitude to those that deliver those services on our behalf,
01:35the life-saving, life-changing services that they deliver.
01:39And I think it means the world, actually, to our staff and volunteers that they do get this recognition.
01:44Now, I'm sure there's some people out there thinking,
01:46oh, wouldn't it be nice if so-and-so got nominated?
01:48Or wouldn't it be nice if that person got some recognition?
01:51If there's somebody out there thinking about putting a nomination, what would you say to them?
01:54Do it. Do it today.
01:56Don't put it off. Put a nomination in.
01:59And I think I've found in these events previously that just that nomination,
02:06just that form of recognition from your peers or from a member of the public,
02:11someone that you have served, is incredibly important to them.
02:16Getting to a final short list, just being there, as well as the winner,
02:21clearly is an incredibly special moment for them.
02:24But that level of recognition, I think, is really important.
02:27They don't, our staff and volunteers don't seek it.
02:29They don't chase it.
02:30But I think getting it is incredibly powerful.
02:34And so anyone that's thinking about it, that knows someone special,
02:38that has done something that's gone above and beyond, make sure you get that nomination in.
02:42Well, of course, we have to mention the Reader's Choice Award, of course.
02:45Now, this year's Reader's Choice Award focuses on unsung heroes.
02:49How would you describe an unsung hero?
02:50Somebody that does just what I've just said, that delivers an incredible service that goes under the radar,
02:57that doesn't necessarily seek the limelight or get the recognition that normally comes to a team or an individual,
03:04and someone that is still an absolutely central part of delivering the service to a particular community or group,
03:12it's critical that we make sure that we recognise them too.
03:15Well, Health Secretary, thank you very much for that.
03:17Now, of course, the Health Awards are on in Edinburgh on the 6th of November,
03:21but nominations are open already, so make sure that you get involved.
