Award scheme honours NHS founder

IT HAD EVERYTHING you'd expect from a glitzy award ceremony: a TV personality host, videos and a pounding soundtrack by Madonna. Even prime minister Tony Blair turned up to present the top prize and fluffed his autocue in true celebrity style. Billed as the NHS equivalent of the Oscars, the first Nye Bevan Awards celebrated innovative work by healthcare professionals. Yet the prime minister's congratulations seemed at odds with his subsequent claims that public sector workers are resistant to NHS reform. So will 'the Nyes' prove to be just another New Labour PR stunt?