News

NHS Parliamentary Awards: National honours for Midlands NHS staff

An NHS team nationally recognised for helping those who don’t have computers or can’t use technology to access health care, have today received the NHS Future Award in recognition of their innovative and forward thinking at this year’s NHS Parliamentary Awards.

A young mental health campaigner was also celebrated as the NHS Rising Star runner up for her work helping tackle the mental health stigma in BAME communities across Birmingham.

The awards, celebrating the NHS’s 74th birthday, are designed to recognise and celebrate some of the biggest achievements in health and social care.

The Information Management & Technology (IM&T) Transformation Team at Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, were awarded the Futures Award during a ceremony at the House of Commons this afternoon (Wednesday 6 July 2022).

The team ensured patients without digital skills, home internet, or access to technology could join and undertake virtual consultations.

The project has given patients more choice on how they access and progress through their care and helped the Trust reduce backlogs caused by the pandemic.

Nominated by Amanda Milling MP, the team was among nine other winners announced during the ceremony.

Martyn Perry, Associate Director of IM&T Transformation at Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: “At MPFT our digital mission is ‘enhancing care through digital innovation’.

“Our Award-winning transformation project provided accessible means of using technology to ensure service users that may not have digital skills, home internet, or access to devices can still join and undertake virtual consultations.

“We are delighted that this innovative and forward-thinking approach to improve the choices service users have in how they access and progress through their care journeys has been recognised at national level.

“The future of the NHS is in the successful transformation and adoption of digital solutions, through more projects like this.”

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides physical and mental health care, learning disability and adult social care services across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin.

Zaynab (ZeZe) Sohawon from Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, nominated by Steve McCabe MP, was also named NHS Rising Star runner up at the Awards for her work as a mental health activist campaigning for more accessible CAMHS services for young people.

ZeZe has lived experience of autism, psychosis and personality disorder. She was in CAMHS inpatient psychiatric intensive care and children’s secure units after being a ‘looked after child’ in the care of her local authority.

ZeZe’s experience of trauma whilst also being a person of colour is something she advocates for and raises awareness about.

ZeZe Sohawon said: “I was so surprised and so pleased. It means a lot that people are recognising my work, it’s as though they are saying, ‘we see you, we hear you’.

“There is a mental health stigma in BAME communities, and these young people do not have the same access to treatment. I’m passionate about tackling this stigma and making sure that all young people have health equality.”

Dr Mohammed Saqib Anwar, Deputy Regional Medical Director at NHS England and NHS Improvement in the Midlands and regional judge, said: “It was so heart-warming to read about all the fantastic work that is being done by some amazing teams and individuals.

“Heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and the nominees – it is people and teams like these that are the heartbeat of the NHS.”

The NHS Parliamentary Awards were established to engage MPs in identifying and highlighting innovative and high-quality care across every constituency in England, and thanking staff for their dedication, hard work and commitment by recognising and honouring their achievements.

Midlands MPs sent hundreds of nominations that celebrated examples of staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty including doctors, support workers and volunteers who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to make a genuine difference to the people they care for.

The 10 Award winners were selected from more than 700 nominations and were judged by a national panel made up of senior leaders representing both staff and patients.

The Information Management & Technology (IM&T) Transformation Team at Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Zaynab Sohawon