The NHS in the North East has today revealed the two individuals and teams it has chosen as part of ten 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 East champions selected by an expert panel are:

 The Excellence in Urgent and Emergency Care Award: Dr Dawn Ashley, North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

The North Tees Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU), nominated by Alex Cunningham MP and Mike Hill MP, provides high quality emergency acute care to 400,000 patients across Stockton, Hartlepool and North Tees. The North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust imitative has allowed for more tailored care for 30,000 patients at the EAU each year. Streamlining the services has an impact not only on their ability to provide efficient, safe care for but also enhances the level of care provided within the Accident & Emergency Department.

Dr Dawn Ashley said: “We are so delighted to have been selected as regional winners for the Excellence in Urgent & Emergency Care in the NHS Parliamentary Awards. Our emphasis on creating an environment where staff are valued and their training supported is rewarded by a group of individuals who are constantly willing to change and adapt our service to provide the very best quality of care for our patients”

The Excellence in Health Care Award: The James Cook Thoracic Surgical Team

This lung cancer surgical team, nominated by Simon Clarke MP, is a highly innovative group of nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and support staff. They have a strong focus on reducing the invasive nature of surgery where possible, thereby reducing recovery times and increasing the viability of surgery for frailer patients.

David Chadwick, Medical Director for Specialist and Planned Care at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are delighted that the Thoracic Team at The James Cook University Hospital has been selected as the regional winner in The Excellence in Healthcare category in this year’s the NHS Parliamentary Awards. This is a fantastic achievement which recognises the cutting-edge treatment this specialist team delivers and we are very proud to see its dedicated staff shortlisted for this prestigious national award.”

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.