THE finalists have been announced for this year's NHS Borders Celebrating Excellence Awards.

Over the past few months, nominations have been flooding in and in total there were 122 people put forward to receive one of the coveted accolades.

And the search has been narrowed down to 47 of the top healthcare professionals and teams, who will all appear at a ceremony in Springwood Park in Kelso on Saturday, April 29.

John Raine, Chairman of NHS Borders said: "The Celebrating Excellence awards ceremony is an opportunity to recognise the hard work, commitment and dedication of staff and volunteers across the organisation. 

"I look forward to welcoming the finalists, members of staff and invited guests to Springwood at the end of April."

The finalists are:

VALUES AWARD: Nicky Berry, associate director of nursing/head of midwifery; Irene Bonnar, head of work & wellbeing; Brenda Everitt, personal assistant to director of finance and the Telephone Switchboard Team.

IMPROVING HEALTH: Borders Healthy Living Network; Caring For Smiles team; Julie Murray & Long Term Conditions Project and NHS Borders Screening Services.

INNOVATION & IMPROVEMENT: Dialysis Unit; General Services Team; Susie McFadzen, Midwife and Teviot Medical Practice with Scottish Ambulance Paramedic Practitioners.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE: Dr Janet Bennison, consultant; Irene Bonnar, head of work & wellbeing; Stephanie Errington, head of planning & performance and Lorraine Wilson, midwife sonographer.

PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER: Dr Gillian Arbuckle, GP; Coldstream Medical Practice; Newcastleton Health Centre and George Romanes, community pharmacist.

RISING STAR: Dr Jonathan Bridges, GP; Rhona Hillis, cancer care pharmacist; Sam Laurie, communications assistant and Barbara Smith, project assistant - Healthy Living Network.

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE: Emma Allan, advanced neonatal nurse practitioner; Early Years Co-ordination and Assessment Team (EYCAT); Alan Lawson, learning disability liaison nurse and the Pregnancy Assessment Unit.

PARTNERSHIP WORKING: Borders Alcohol and Drugs Partnership and Executive Group; Diabetes Team; Joint Learning Disability Service and Morven Paterson & Karen Wilson, 'the difference' fundraising team.

SUPPORTER OF THE YEAR: Borders Hospital Radio Service; Kathleen O'Reilly, music volunteer; Billy Welsh, volunteer and the Running for Ronnie Team.

BEHIND THE SCENES: CLINICAL: Elaine Hancock, prescribing support pharmacist; Infection Control Team; Alan Lawson, learning disability liaison nurse and June Patterson, theatre sister.

BEHIND THE SCENES: NON CLINICAL: Catering Team; Wilma Dunn, domestic assistant and Donna Wheelans, practice manager.

PERSON CENTRED CARE: Adele Dougall, staff nurse; Sandra Henwood, spiritual care co-ordinator; Katie Masterson, physiotherapy team leader and John Watt, physiotherapist.