'Agnes, you are the best of us' 

Baptist church member Agnes Tong Diffang received the Outstanding Contribution to Health Care accolade at the National Reality TV Awards after dedicating more than 40 years service to the NHS 

Agnes is a member of Trinity Baptist Church in London, and has served the NHS predominantly as a midwife after coming to the UK in 1974. 

In her long service she has delivered 'caring support and offered medical assistance to hundreds of children, some of whom are now grown adults,' said Dean Russell, MP for Watford, who announced the award at the ceremony in July. 'Her consistency, tenacity and dedication to the NHS has not gone unnoticed as this year she has been voted to received the NHS Heroes award for Outstanding Contribution to Healthcare' 

'Agnes, you are the best of us,' Mr Russell continued. 'Thank you for your service to the NHS. Thank you for your service to our country. Thank you for saving so many children for so many years.'

In receiving the award, Agnes's immediate response was to speak of her faith. 'First of all I give honour to my Lord,' she said. 'I give honour to God. We can't do anything without him. We are here because of him. So this honour I give to my Lord Jesus Christ.' 

She added, 'I am honoured to stand here today to receive this. I never ever dreamt that one day I'd be recognised. When I came here it was very tough. 

'And we know what it is right now, in the pandemic. I feel for my friends and colleagues, and doctors and nurses who are still on the front line. But they are not on the front line - Jesus is on the front line. 

'Thank you so much.'  

In an interview following the award, Agnes said she was both "overwhelmed" and "overjoyed". 

'I've been taken by surprise. How many midwives are working - thousands? Millions? For me to be chosen, it's awesome.'

She continued to speak of her faith in the interview.

'Who would ever think about me, but God in his mercy and grace. He has thought about my work. When you do something and you are rewarded, it's amazing. We've got recognition.

'But sometimes people do things behind the scenes, and we don't see them. To be alive and to be recognised as I am today, I'm too overwhelmed. I thank God.'

The National Reality Television Awards launched in 2011, with all categories nominated and voted for by television fans.

Each year all nominations for the NRTA are submitted via the official NRTA website by the public in January and the public decide winners of each category by voting on the official NRTA website for their favourite shows, celebrities or participants.

More than 5.4 million submissions were received for this year’s nominations. A new award - the Best Health Service TV Show - was introduced this year, dedicated to shows focused on the inspiring work led by NHS staff.