Hospital charities and sponsors come together to celebrate extraordinary NHS workers at the 2026 gesh CARE awards
Extraordinary NHS workers and volunteers from across St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group (gesh) will once again be recognised at the 2026 gesh CARE Awards, thanks to the continued generosity of our hospital charities and local business sponsors.
The awards, which celebrate the outstanding teams and people who go above and beyond every day, are made possible entirely through charitable funding and sponsorship, ensuring that no NHS money is spent on the event.
Applications for this year’s awards have now closed, with an incredible 800 nominations received across all categories. Judging panels are now underway, with winners set to be revealed at what promises to be the biggest CARE awards yet.
Alongside our hospital charities – St George’s Hospital Charity and Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity – we are delighted to welcome back a fantastic line-up of sponsors, alongside several organisations supporting the awards for the very first time.
Molly Simpson, Head of Charity for Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity said, “We are pleased to continue our collaboration with St George’s Hospital Charity to support this incredible event that celebrates all of those across our Group.”
Russell Cawberry returns for a second-year running.
Robert Layzell, Business Development Manager said “We are excited to be continuing our support for gesh through sponsoring the awards. Last year it was incredible to see so many teams and individuals be recognised and celebrated, and we can’t wait to see even more this year.”
Joining our sponsor line-up for the first time is Ergea Ltd, a leading provider of managed healthcare equipment services. Through their work with NHS hospitals, Ergea helps deliver innovative technology that supports outstanding care.
As a provider of security services across healthcare settings, Assist Security also joins us as a new sponsor for 2026, as they continue to help create a safe environment for our patients, visitors and staff. We are incredibly proud that our own gesh Security Teams won the behind-the-scenes award in 2024, making their sponsorship particularly fitting.
The 2026 gesh CARE Awards promises to be our most memorable yet. Guests can look forward to an evening of celebration, inspiration and a very special host to be announced. While we’re keeping their identity ‘under a cloak’ for a little longer, let’s just say they are no stranger to the NHS.
Katy Vaughan, CEO of St George’s Hospital Charity, added: “We are proud to support the celebration and recognition of our incredible NHS staff and look forward to an unforgettable evening with all involved.”
All 18,000 colleagues across the Group are eligible for an award, not just those in clinical roles. From doctors, nurses and therapists, to healthcare assistants, receptionists, porters, cleaners, administrators, volunteers and countless others behind the scenes, the awards recognise the vital contribution every colleague makes to delivering outstanding care.
The winners will be announced on 23 September at a special ceremony at the iconic Kia Oval.