The NHS in the North Cumbria has today revealed the four individuals and teams it has chosen as regional champions for the prestigious NHS Parliamentary Awards, supported by Fuji Film to celebrate outstanding health and care staff helping patients as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.

The regional champions will now go head to head with other winners from across the country for a national award to be presented at a special ceremony in the House of Commons on the 10 July.

Hundreds of examples of staff who go above and beyond the call of duty including doctors, nurses and volunteers who make a genuine difference to the people they care for were nominated by their MPs.

Launched in March, the NHS called on MPs to find and nominate those individuals or teams they thought have made the biggest improvements to health and care services in their constituencies across ten categories.

England’s top nurse and leading the national awards ceremony this year, Ruth May, said: “A huge congratulations to all those who have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to the NHS as well as making a genuine difference to the patients they care for. It will be a tough task selecting our overall winners – I look forward to hearing more about their fantastic achievements and celebrating with them all at the national award ceremony.”

The North Cumbria champions, nominated by local MPs, Rory Stewart, Trudy Harrison and Sue Hayman, are:

The Excellence in Primary Care Award: Familiar Faces Team, Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Familiar Faces is an innovative primary care service for North Cumbria, addressing the needs of ‘frequent attenders”. Frequent consulting results in high cost to the health system and a risk of harm to the patient from over investigation, admission and over-treatment. Their overall aim is to focus on improving health and quality of life whilst also reducing unnecessary healthcare contact.

Dr Catherine Parker, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Lead for Familiar Faces at Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are thrilled to be Regional Winner of the Excellence in Primary Care Awards and to have the team’s work recognised in this way. We work closely with many colleagues and services who have been part of Familiar Faces’ success so they are all part of this award too.”

Wellbeing at Work Award: Better Health At Work, NHS North Cumbria Health & Care System

The work carried out by the Better Health at Work teams across North Cumbria involves health advocates developing a comprehensive programme contributing to the health and wellbeing of staff both locally and nationally. This included coming up with the idea of celebrating the NHS’ 70^th birthday through parkrun and working with NHS England and parkrun UK to encourage more staff to get involved in physical activity and volunteering.

The Health Equalities Award: Health & Wellbeing Coaches, Cumbria County Council

The Health and Wellbeing Coaches initiative at Cumbria County Council has been highlighted a fantastic example of cross-organisational working.

The initiative uses coaching techniques to support adults facing complex and multiple challenges that impact on their ability to lead happy, healthy lives. They encourage people to act on factors such as relationships, home life and health related behaviours. The scheme has resulted in improved resilience, engagement with local communities and social networks, and reduced contact with a number of NHS services for those involved.

The Excellence in Mental Health Care Award (Sponsored by the Premier League): Reach–Out Delirium Service, Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Reach-Out’ (Reduce, Educate, Assess & Care with Hope) dedicated service for delirium. The first of its kind in the UK, teams work seven days a week at both the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital to screen and access patients to prevent delirium.

Stephen Eames, Lead for North Cumbria Health and Care System, said: “I am delighted that the hard work of our teams has been recognised by our MPs in Cumbria and that we have four regional winners.

“The winners really bring to life the work we are doing to integrate our services, and the innovation  shown by our staff in health and care in supporting our patients and colleagues. It is fantastic that their energy, enthusiasm and achievements are being recognised.”

Dr Mike Prentice, a Medical Director for the North East and Yorkshire said: “I was impressed by the high standard of all entries from the North East this year and choosing between the dozens of champions who all go above and beyond, to go forward and represent our region, has been incredibly difficult. I wish our champions the best of luck in the national heats and will be rooting for them on the day.”

All of the champions will now be invited to the national awards ceremony for the final stage of judging by a panel of health and care leaders. The ceremony will be held on 10 July at the House of Commons and hosted by Dr Sarah Wollaston, Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee with a special performance from the NHS Choir.

The NHS Parliamentary Awards, supported by FUJI FILM, recognise the massive contribution made by the individuals who work in and alongside the NHS.

For more information on the NHS Parliamentary Awards, please click here.