Shining the spotlight on stars of Shropshire's health service

You'll read the stories of the five nominees who are in the running to win the Public Choice Award in this year's Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust Awards.

And you'll be able to vote for the person or people who you think are the most deserving.

They are five very different heart-warming stories which showcase all that's very best about the health service in the county.

Today we meet a sister from the Oncology ward at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital who puts compassion at the heart of her nursing philosophy and went to tremendous lengths to make sure that one of her patients was able to make a final trip home to be with his family.

Later in the week we'll bring you the story of the volunteer "Blood Bikers", only set up in January but already saving the NHS thousands of pounds and, more importantly, helping to save lives.

Then there are a pair of amazing charity fundraisers, who between them have helped to raise £50,000 in three years, thanks to a series of walks, between the Princess Royal and Royal Shrewsbury hospitals – and all organised in their own spare time.

We'll meet one of the porters at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford who has won plaudits from his colleagues for the pride he takes in his work, his helpfulness and his positive attitude.

And we'll feature a team that's winning awards for its pioneering work in the care of people with dementia. Five great stories and five worthy nominees

Sometimes, this newspaper, like many others, is filled with stories which show some some of the less positive aspects of human nature.

But this week we'll been able to show that there are some remarkable human beings doing great things, none of whom actually seeking to make any headlines of their own. We've also shown that, despite many negative headlines, the NHS is very much alive and kicking and that there are people working in it who care deeply and are desperate to go the extra mile to help their patients. It has been a heart-warming and life-affirming experience.

Read their stories all week in the Shropshire Star and on Saturday you'll be able to go online to vote.

Reason for the awards and how to take part:

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust's annual Trust Awards are designed to highlight the enthusiastic and innovative efforts of staff at the organisation.

Each year they provide a snapshot of the passion and commitment of the thousands of staff who work at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and in the community, seeking every day to provide the best possible care for half a million people across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Mid Wales.

The Public Choice Award is one of the 10 awards – and the only one to be voted for by the public.

All week, we're bringing you the stories of the five nominees. You can find out how to vote in Saturday's Shropshire Star.

This year's awards will take place in the reception area of the Shropshire Women and Children's Centre at the PRH at 2pm on September 11.

The ceremony will take place ahead of the trust's annual general meeting, which will be held at 3pm in the Education Centre.

Almost 100 nominations were made, a figure on a par with last year. Short-listing has taken place and about 45 nominees have been chosen as the finalists in the awards.

This year there is a revamped set of awards, with a focus on the trust's new values – Proud To Care, Make It Happen, We Value Respect and Together We Achieve.

Four new awards focus on each of the trust's values and there is also a Public Choice Award, which will be open to staff and the wider community to vote for the winner through the Shropshire Star.

The award categories for 2014 are:

• Quality of Care

• Proud To Care

• Make It Happen

• We Value Respect

• Together We Achieve

• Public Choice

• Research and Development

• Academies

• Ward/Department of the Year

• Leader of the Year

A judging panel featuring executive and non-executive directors, senior managers, members of the public and a representative from a partner organisation will decide the winners (Public Choice aside) at the start of next month.

Members of the public are invited to the awards presentation and the AGM and the trust would be delighted if they can attend the event.

If possible people are asked to please let the trust know in advance if they are planning to attend. This will help to ensure there is an information pack available for them, and that they are provided with details about parking on the day.

The Membership Office can be contacted by calling (01743) 261473 or alternatively by emailing members@sath.nhs.uk