Three unsung heroes of Bradford’s health service stepped in to the spotlight to be crowned winners of the Hospital Oscars.

The annual event, which is part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s week of events, honours the hard work and dedication of staff.

Each year staff are asked to nominate colleagues they feel have gone the extra mile over the year.

This year’s Oscar winners, chosen from 17 nominations, were: health care support worker, Anne Hodgson, who has worked for the Trust since 1975; Vicky Frith, a clerical assistant at the Women’s and Newborn ultrasound unit, and matron Janet Collett, who has spent more than 30 years on the wards of the city’s hospitals.

Anne and Vicky were presented with a cheque for £1,000, thanks to sponsors Sovereign Health Care, along with a certificate and an Oscar. Janet Collet is currently on holiday and was not able to attend the presentation.

Anne, who works at the Bradford Royal Infirmary’s nucleus theatres, was nominated by hospital deputy team leader, Mark Owen Scarth, who said: “Ann has shown immense dedication and commitment to her job and provided an outstanding service spanning 35 years.

“She has adapted to constant change over her career and embraced this change positively, always encouraging her team to view change as an important process of working in the NHS and her ability to relate this is a credit to her.”

Ultrasound superintendent, Virginia Lodge nominated Vicky Frith, for undertaking more than her share of duties. She said: “Vicky is always cheerful and happy – she even has a smile on her face on the days when she is run off her feet.

“She is such a valuable member of the team that when she goes on holiday we count the days until she returns.”

The Trust’s matron of acute surgery, Janet Collett, was nominated by general manager, Emma MacLellan-Smith, and seconded by clinical director Jon Ausobsky. Her citation read: “Janet is the epitome of a nursing role model and is widely regarded as one of the strongest matrons in the Trust.”

The awards were presented by Trust chairman, David Richardson, and Russ Piper, chief executive of Sovereign Health Care.