Vote now for your champion of the year

Voting is now open for the Healthcare IT Champion of the Year, the category of the EHI Awards 2015 decided by the readers of Digital Health News.

Five people have been nominated and let their name go forward for the award, which recognises the work of an individual who has made an outstanding contribution over the past year.

Voting will run from now until 11 September, and the winner will be announced at the awards dinner in central London on 1 October.

Jon Hoeksma, the chief executive and editor of Digital Health News, the new name for EHI news, said: “We know that our readers always look forward to this award, which gives them the opportunity to recognise the unsung heroes of healthcare IT.

“This year’s line-up includes people working for suppliers, for national IT bodies, and at the frontline of healthcare; and they are all bound to have their supporters.

“We wish all of them all the best, and very much look forward to unveiling the winner in October.” This year’s nominees are:

Peter Coates, the head of the open source programme at NHS England, whose nomination says he has “created momentum in the open source community” by “leading by example and inspiring others.”

Lesley Deacon, the head of midwifery at Ealing Hospital, whose citation says she has “pioneered and championed the use of mobile technology for community midwives” and is “hard working, committed and passionate.”

Andrew Griffiths, the head of the NHS Wales Informatics Service, whose citation says he has “been instrumental in bringing to fruition a national architecture that will make joined up care a reality” in an “unassuming, but dedicated and personable way.”

Claire Johnston, the director of nursing and people for Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, whose nomination says she is an “inspiring champion for technology and [delivering] transformational benefits” but who remains “a nurse at heart.”

Chris Netherton, the managing director of Microtest, whose citation says he is “passionate about how technology can enhance patient care”, a pioneer of the Guru solution, and “a genuinely nice person.”

This year’s awards are being run by Informa, and its head of events, Neil Hadland, said: “This is an exciting time for the EHI Awards 2015.

“After a very successful judging day in Leicester earlier this month we have been able to publish the shortlist for the main categories. And now voting for the Healthcare IT Champion of the Year is underway.

“We look forward to welcoming all the winners to the awards dinner in October, at its new venue in the spectacular Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, in the heart of London.”

More information about the nominees, full details of how to vote, and everything you need to know about attending the awards dinner are available now on the EHI Awards 2015 website.