Special thanks go to the independent judging panel that comprises of the following people:

Roy Lilley (Chairman)

Independent healthcare commentator and broadcaster.

Roy is an established, independent health policy analyst, writer, broadcaster and commentator on health and social issues.

Previously a visiting Fellow at the Management School of Imperial College London, and formerly at the Centre for Health Services Management at the University of Nottingham, he also provides consultancy to NHS organisations and the healthcare industry.

Roy has contributed to the Today programme, Newsnight, BBC News 24 and BBC5 Live. He is the author of over 20 books on health and health service management and is a trustee of the Patient Choice Initiative. He is a member of the Variety Club of Great Britain, a Freeman of the City of London, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow of the ROyal Society of Arts

In November 2004 he was made a companion of the Institute of Healthcare Management for his 'outstanding contribution' to healthcare management.

Dr David Colin-Thomé

National Clinical Director for Primary Care - Department of Health, and a General Practitioner.

OBE, MBBS, FRCGP, FFPH, FFGDP (Honorary), MIHM. Newcastle University Graduate, and a General Practitioner in Runcorn since 1971.

Part-time General Practitioner since 1994, National Clinical Director for Primary Care, DH Honorary Visiting Professor, Centre for Public Policy and Management at Manchester University.

Honorary Visiting Professor, School of Health, University of Durham.

Married to Christine, father of Mark and Jill, grandfather of Amber, Jacob, Luca and Ryan. David loves Everton FC.

Sue Nutbrown RCN

Chair of RCN Practice Nurse Association, Practice Nurse and Primary Care Nurse Advisor.

DipN, BA (Hons), MMedSci. A Specialist Community Practitioner. Dip Asthma and COPD. ENB Practice Nurse / Primary Care Nurse Adviser.

Sue has been a Practice Nurse in Sheffield for 18 years, specialising in minor illness and respiratory care. As a part-time Primary Care Development Nurse for Sheffield Health Authority for 5 years, she was responsible for the professional development of Sheffield practice nurses and the development of integrated nursing teams.

Sue is a Professional Executive Committee member of the South East Sheffield PCT and the PEC lead for Training and Workforce Development.

She is a Primary Care Nurse Adviser and has worked closely with the Department of Health on the NarPact Competency Framework, the NHSU First Contact Programme, the Liberating the Talents documents and was a member of the Department of Health's nGMS / PMS nursing reference group. Sue has also been instrumental in developing clinical supervision structures and processes along with an appraisal programmed for practice nurses in Sheffield.

Sue is a trained CHI reviewer and has worked with the National Clinical Assessment Authority on reporting performance which gives cause for concerna dn is also the only nurse member of the South Yorkshire Performance Assessment Group.

Following her rise to Chair of the RCN Practice Nurse Association in April 2003, Sue became closely involved in work on Agenda for Change, the new GMS Contract and developing competencies and career structures for practice nurses.

Married with three children aged 17, 20 and 23, Sue spends her spare time enjoying swimming and voluntary work for the British Red Cross including tutoring in International Humanitarian Law and the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross.

Dr James Kingsland

Chairman of the NAPC and General Practitioner

James is Chairman of the National Association of Primary Care, and a senior partner in a General Practice partnership providing Personal Medical Services in Wallesy in a first wave PMS+ site.

For three years, between 1999 and 2002, he was a GP advisor to the Department of Health leading on clinical aspects of new government policy for Primary Care. His main remit was in the development of Personal Medical Services, Walk-in Centres and helping develop the quality agenda for General Practice.

James has been a vice-chairman of a Health Authority, Chairman of the GPC's PMS sub-committee and GP advisor to all 8 former NHS executive Regional Offices concerning PMS Contracting.

He is a GP Trainer and member of the Mersey regional postgraduate FP education committee. An Undergraduate Tutor for the medical schools of Liverpool and University College London, he also tutors postgraduate nursing students on MSc and nurse prescribing courses.

James' practice has won numerous national awards for clinical excellence.

Married to Sarah with two daughters, he still claims to be able to find time to play golf and football, suffer watching Nottingham Forest and be the resident doctor for BBC Radio Merseyside.

Sue Bates

Winner of Practice Manager of the Year 2007

Sue Bates was the overall winner of Practice Manager of the Year 2007. Sue has been Business Manager at Sutton Hill Medical Practice, Telford, since 1998. Previously she was Fundholding Manager and has worked for the practice since 1985.

Sue has helped the practice become the first surgery in Telford and Wrekin to achieve Investor in People status. The practice has also achieved maximum QOF points and won a Health and Social Care Award.

She enjoys training and mentoring new managers, and plays an active role in the management of Sutton Hill Families Project - a project run by the practice to help families in a deprived area.