Over 20 public and private organisations were recognised by the charity based on their leadership in one or more of the following areas:  flexible working, childcare provision, maternity and/or paternity policy and help with elderly care responsibilities.

Such was the strength of submissions from NHS organisations that the expert panel of judges chose to acknowledge the NHS collectively as an employer who offers excellent benefits to working families.

Sian Thomas, director of NHS Employers, said; “Research has shown that for the NHS to deliver quality patient care we need a supported and well motivated workforce and a healthy work life balance is clearly key to this.

A supportive, flexible work experience for employees leads to engaging workplaces and good workplaces lead to better patient care and a healthy and safe work climate.“

"Over the last few years NHS Employers has worked hard to support employers in their efforts to help working families through initiatives such as flexible working, favourable child provision and much more. We are delighted that Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and the NHS collectively has been recognised in this way."

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust was one of the many exemplars of good practice within the NHS to have impressed the judges. The trust was praised for its efforts to keep staff well informed through open sessions on maternity and paternity leave and its flexible health check sessions. It was also recognised for its childcare support package and its range of support for carers including hospital drop-ins, carer pamper days and free training events.

Janet Hamer, assistant director of human resources, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We recognise that through healthy staff we provide good quality patient care. The Trust is delighted to have been recognised by Working Families, at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, achieving a healthy work life balance has long been a central part of the organisations culture.”

Sarah Jackson, chief executive of Working Families said: “The number and calibre of nominations we have had has clearly demonstrated the significance of this list and the importance of family-friendly employment policies.  Our Top 20 are employers whose innovation and farsighted practice have brought them business success and created the flexible and engaging workplaces which working parents and carers really need”.