OUTSIDE our closest circle of family and friends the person many of us trust most is our GP.

He or she is the first professional to whom we turn with concerns about our health.

They are ably supported in their practices by a range of clinical professionals and administrative staff.

The expertise in GP practices is delivered with a calmness, understanding and compassion that can sometimes ease our distress as effectively as medicine.

We visit practices at the highest and lowest points in our life: when a child is born, and when a serious illness threatens... or is overcome.

When staff retire or move from the area we feel their loss keenly, while slowly but surely welcoming their successors into our lives.

Their influence is immense, but recognition for their dedication modest. That is why we want to pay tribute to our fabulous family doctor practices in the Hereford Times Health and Care Awards 2018.

We looking for the practice whose qualities exemplify what the job is all about. Among other things they should be caring, have empathy, be knowledgeable, accessible and organised.

The chance to pay tribute to the county's GPs practices has been made possible by the sponsorship of NHS Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group. Clinical commissioning groups are groups of GPs that are responsible for designing local health services in England.

Our health and care awards aim to recognise hard work, dedication, innovation and high standards in the health and care sector in Herefordshire.

The awards will be presented in a glitzy ceremony later this year.

Supplements in the Hereford Times and coverage on our website will include the full list of awards up for grabs, and who is finally shortlisted.

Our independent judging panel will sift through your nominations and identify those with the qualities they feel best match the award category criteria. They will make their decision based on the content of the nomination rather than the number of nominations received.

Join us in applauding those who contribute so much for others in Herefordshire.