During next week’s World of Health IT event in Barcelona, HIMSS Europe will bring the Kate Granger Awards for Compassionate Care to the Old Continent.

Nominations are open for the first ever European Kate Granger Awards for Compassionate Care, named after an English doctor who worked tirelessly to raise awareness around compassion in healthcare whilst undergoing treatment for cancer.

Dr Kate Granger, who passed away in July 2016 at the age of 34, launched the awards in England in 2014 to recognize people and organizations that deliver outstanding, patient-centered care. It was whilst undergoing treatment for cancer that Kate became interested in seeing health and care “through the eyes of a patient.”

Now, with the backing of HIMSS and the support of Kate’s widower Chris Pointon, colleagues in the rest of Europe have the opportunity to recognize compassionate patient care in the European Kate Granger Awards for Compassionate Care.

The European awards have three categories: individual, team/organization, and best use of innovation. Nominations will need to show evidence of ambitious and innovative ways of delivering care, excellent leadership and positive impact on patient experience.

Healthcare professionals, patients and members of the public can nominate here, and the winners will be announced at eHealth Week 2017 on 10-12 May in Malta.

“Kate left us with a message and legacy that every health system in every corner of the world should take note of: to look for the patient in all that we do. To make sure that we are not missing the one thing that makes a patient feel better, such as introducing ourselves and treating the scared and worried person in front of you, in the same way you would a friend,” Steve Lieber, President and CEO of HIMSS, said in a statement. “This is the message I want HIMSS to help drive forward in the UK, Europe and the US through our support of the Kate Granger Awards for Compassionate Care.”