Here’s to the best of health

It was bouquets and not brickbats that were thrown as we celebrated our Best of Health award winners last night.

In the run up to the General Election, it’s not always so rosy when it comes to our health services.

Health is a political battleground where unkind words are thrown with reckless abandon.

Which is why, when we get the opportunity, it’s important to heap praise on the outstanding people who make the health service tick.

The politicians may lob insults at one another, we prefer to sing praises.

And at the Quality Hotel in Boldon last night even the most seasoned of crooners would go hoarse singing so many praises.

In every corner of the room was a health hero of which our community could be proud.

Typical of the inspirations stories to emerge from our awards was that of our, aptly enough, Unsung Hero Award winner Steven Hogg.

After suffering a series of strokes that affected not only his mobility but his speech, Steven was helped on his road to recovery by our health service.

It was a long battle, but one in which Steven didn’t forget the fantastic help he received.

Instead of walking away, he decided to put something back into the service that turned his life around.

Now he volunteers with various health groups and is an ambassador for City Hospitals Sunderland.

His story was just one of many at our ceremony which served to remind us of what we all know but acknowledge too infrequently - that we are lucky to live in a community that has the best people working for our best of health.

We were glad to throw them a party.