Doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, and non-medical hospital workers have been hailed as the best staff at the region's biggest health trust.

There were dozens of winners at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's (NNUH) annual staff awards event, which was held at The Forum, Norwich.

John Fry, chairman of NNUH, said: 'It's such a pleasure to be able to recognise those employees who patients and colleagues feel have gone above and beyond the call of duty.'

Award-winners were crowned in a variety of categories, including research, apprentice, leadership, lifetime achievement, and patient choice.

All the shortlisted candidates had been nominated by patients and colleagues at the trust, which runs the N&N and Cromer hospitals. Mr Fry added: 'It is also important to recognise those who dedicate their working lives, some of them for 40 years, to our hospitals.

'The response to the awards was overwhelming, with more than 700 entries from all staff groups.

'This made it really hard to pick out the finalists and winners'

The awards were sponsored by Serco, which provides a range of services at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, including catering and cleaning.

The Patient Choice Award was backed by the Eastern Daily Press.

Full list of winners

Lifetime achievement: Erica Balls, Jonathan Pearson, Jenny Tomes

Edith Cavell Nurse of the Year: Sigi Sebastian

Edith Cavell Healthcare assistant of the Year: Sreeja Saji

EDP Patient choice (individual): Tony Phenix

EDP Patient choice (team): Paediatric diabetes team

Clinical teacher of the Year: Jonathan Pearson

Research: Diabetic foot team

Serco: Anna Stasinkova

Apprentice: Sarah McGibbon and Parris McCormack

Volunteer: Jane Dryden

Team: EPMA/Pharmacy

Leadership: Annie Cook and Elizabeth Collins

Employee: Helen Willimott

Unsung hero (clinical) - Carrie Wingfield

Unsung hero (non-clinical) - Meryl Hepple

Ward: Elsing

40 years of service: Richard Burton, Lesley Crump, Kathleen Hopewell, Carol Howman, Christine Hutton.