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Breakthrough treatments, help for the homeless and ‘undercover nurses’ to receive prestigious NHS accolade

The NHS and MPs have today joined forces to honour some of the biggest achievements in health and social care from across the country, honouring individuals and teams in the prestigious NHS Parliamentary Awards supported by FUJIFILM.

Among those scooping awards at the ceremony, will be Sheffield Teaching Hospital’s world-leading stem cell team who have pioneered the use of a breakthrough treatment for multiple sclerosis, the first treatment of its kind to significantly reverse the disease and its debilitating conditions.

Nurses in Hertfordshire are also being recognised as part of celebrations for their contribution to covert operations, working with the police to provide safe and well checks for potential victims of sex trafficking. This is the first operation to involve a collaboration between health services and the police to safeguard these vulnerable individuals who are hard to reach and have limited access to health care.

Simon Stevens, NHS England chief executive, said: “It has once again been a privilege to celebrate with some of the extraordinarily dedicated and selfless health and care heroes who make the NHS what it is today – the much-loved institution that our patients say is what makes them most proud to be British.

“From those who have devoted their lives to helping people and supporting some of our most vulnerable, to delivering pioneering lifesaving treatments, the NHS Parliamentary awards are rightly honouring those who continue to make a huge contribution to our country, through our NHS Long Term Plan.”

More winners at the awards, which have been supported by FUJI Film, include London GP, Dr Peter Buchman, who has worked tirelessly to encourage rough sleepers and people in temporary housing to register with a doctor. His team at the Royal London Hospital has worked to ensure homeless people, who typically have complex health needs including mental and physical, have a good experience of healthcare services and is helping prevent discharge back onto the street when they have been admitted to hospital where possible.

Dr Sarah Wollaston, MP and Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, said: “The success of the National Health Service is built on its wonderful staff, so it is right that MPs champion the outstanding work happening in their local area. I have been blown away by the all the winners including NHS staff, carers and volunteers and their drive to deliver brilliant care to their patients, day in day out, morning and night, throughout the year.”

This year’s lifetime achievement gong is being awarded to Pamela Campbell, a registered nurse from the South whose career has spanned five decades, and her unwavering passion to support vulnerable people including better support for Asylum seekers, people addicted to alcohol and homeless people.

England’s top nurse and lead for the national awards ceremony this year, Ruth May, said: “It was humbling to hear about the hundreds of examples of outstanding care we received for the NHS Parliamentary Awards this year and all were worthy winners, on behalf of the expert panel who represent millions of NHS staff, patients and carers and who had a hard time choosing, I’d like to say a huge congratulations on your fantastic achievements.

“The skills, expertise and innovation that I have seen in the nominations give me confidence that together we can deliver the ambitions set out in the Long Term Plan – I am delighted to be celebrating with the individuals and teams involved.”

The twelve winners will be honoured at the prestigious NHS parliamentary awards ceremony on Wednesday 10th July at the Palace of Westminster’s Terrace Pavilion, hosted by Dr Sara Kayat, NHS GP & TV Doctor.

They have been selected from hundreds of nominations submitted by over 230 MPs – the ceremony will be attended by Health Select Committee Chair Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, Health Secretary Matt Hancock MP, and the panel of judges who collectively represent millions of NHS staff, patients and Carers all paying tribute to the outstanding local NHS heroes.