Professor Rachel Munton, Managing Director of the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network has been recognised at this year's NHS Recognition Awards. The NHS Leadership Recognition Awards celebrate leaders at all levels and across all professions. Those who have ultimately improved people's health and the public's experience of the NHS, and who we are truly proud to work alongside.

Rachel won the NHS Award for Outstanding Collaborative Leadership and will now be considered by a panel of national judges and be up against peers from across the country all hoping to be crowned national winner of their categories at the London ceremony in March 2015.

The process, which has been replicated across nine other regions includes the following categories:

• NHS Board / Governing Body of the Year
• NHS Innovator of the Year
• NHS Award for Outstanding Collaborative Leadership
• NHS Development Champion of the Year
• NHS Inspirational of the Year
• NHS Mentor / Coach of the Year
• NHS Emerging Leader of the Year
• NHS Leader of Inclusivity of the Year
• NHS Patient Champion of the Year

Paul O'Neill, Director of the East Midlands Leadership Academy which hosted the awards said, "A fantastic night was had by all and I'm delighted that Rachel walked away as Outstanding Collaborative Leader of the Year. Rachel is well known both in the region and nationally for her hard work and dedication to improving outcomes for patients and I'll look forward to supporting her at the national ceremony next year."

The NHS Award for Outstanding Collaborative Leadership was sponsored this year by Public Health England and seeks out individuals who continually demonstrate a commitment to leading in partnership with others, partnerships that have resulted in real improvements in health and wellbeing for both individuals and communities.

Rachel's nomination focused on the real and tangible impact her work has had and her citation said:

'Rachel doesn't just talk about collaboration; she makes collaboration happen. As Managing Director of the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network, Rachel unites the NHS, universities, industry and social care to ignite innovation that will transform the health of the region's 4.5m residents.'

Chair of the East Midlands Leadership Academy, Gavin Boyle said, "The atmosphere on the evening was great and was a fitting tribute to NHS staff in our region who work so hard. The environment in which we work is often challenging so it gives me great pleasure to celebrate the fantastic work that's being undertaken day in, day out."

Almost 150 nominations were received in total from a spread of organisations which included those in both primary and secondary care as well as those from other parts of the health and social care sector.

Notes to Editors

The NHS Recognition Awards are hosted by the East Midlands Leadership Academy, a membership organisation developed to serve the leadership and development needs of the all NHS organisations in the East Midlands. It was created in November 2009 to promote and deliver the senior leadership development agenda for the East Midlands. For more information visit www.leadershipeastmidlands.nhs.uk

The East Midlands last year had three national winners from the process.

For more information about the awards and the individual categories visit https://awards.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/em/