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Health and care heroes to represent South Region in NHS Birthday Awards

The NHS in the South has today (Friday 18th May) revealed the ten individuals and teams it has chosen as regional champions in a prestigious competition to mark the NHS’s 70th birthday.

The champions – including dedicated Nurses, Domestic Assistants, GP’s, Health and Social Care projects and the Armed Forces Community Health and Wellbeing team – will now vie with other regional winners from across England for a national award to be presented at a special ceremony at the Houses of Parliament in July.

The NHS70 Parliamentary Awards, sponsored by IBM and Teva, recognise the massive contribution made by the individuals who work in and alongside the NHS.

Launched in February, it asked the region’s MPs to find and nominate those individuals or teams they thought have made the biggest improvements to health services in their constituencies across ten categories.

From 188 entries, ten outstanding nominations have been chosen, which exemplify the best of what the NHS and its partners do day in, day out.

The champions are:

  • The Excellence in Cancer Care Award: Sian Denninson
  • The Excellence in Mental Health Care Award, sponsored by Wesleyan: Dorset Armed Forces Community Health and Wellbeing Project
  • The Excellence in Urgent and Emergency Care Award: Home First Team
  • The Excellence in Primary Care Award: Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne GP Federation (known as CLICK CHAMP)
  • The Person-Centred Care Champion Award: Dr Shelagh O’Riordan
  • The Future NHS Award, sponsored by Health HR UK: TIHM (Technology Integrated Health Management)
  • The Healthier Communities Award: Gary Deighton, Community Engagement Team
  • The Care and Compassion Award: Clock Tower Surgery
  • The Patient and Public Involvement Award: Chris and Steve Beal
  • The Lifetime Achievement Award: Rose Bennett

All of the champions will now be invited to the national awards ceremony, which will be held on July 4th, the day before the NHS’s 70th birthday. The ceremony will be hosted by Dr Sara Kayat, NHS GP & TV Doctor best known for This Morning, Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls and GPs: Behind Closed Doors.

Nigel Acheson, Regional Medical Director for NHS England in the South said: “Picking champions from the dozens of high quality nominations we received from local MPs was incredibly difficult, so all of those going forward to the national ceremony should be extremely proud of their achievement.”

The regional champions will now go forward to a final stage of judging by a panel including the leaders of Royal Colleges, the Unison trade union, and the Patients Association – collectively representing millions of health and care workers and patients.

Nigel added: “I’m sure everyone will be rooting for our regional champions when the national winners are decided, and I’m confident that as a team they’ll be bringing a number of awards back with them from Westminster in July.”

 

South Champions:

The Excellence in Cancer Care Award

Regional champion: Sian Dennison (Plymouth)

Nominated by: Luke Pollard MP

Reason for nomination: Part of the team at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust Sian is devoted to improving cancer care at every stage; from early diagnosis to end of life. Always at the forefront of the latest developments, Sian works hard to engage with both patient groups and charitable groups. She is dedicated to ensuring her team of Cancer Nurse Specialists have the skills to address all physical, social and psychological consequences of a diagnosis of cancer both in the short and long term

Quote: Sian Dennison, said:  “I have been a cancer nurse for over 30 years and am absolutely delighted to have been nominated for this award. To me, this award is about the team I work with, I couldn’t have achieved all that has been delivered without their passion, dedication and their support to improve patient care and make a difference.”

 

The Excellence in Mental Health Care Award, sponsored by Wesleyan:

Regional champion: Dorset Armed Forces Community Health and Wellbeing Project (Dorset)

Nominated by: Michael Tomlinson and Tobias Ellwood MP

Reason for nomination: A ground breaking project that has taken an all-inclusive, holistic approach to health and social care provision for armed forces personnel and their families.  Working in partnership with others, the project is starting to see good results and has received excellent feedback from local armed forces leaders and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Veterans. The project, nominated by the two MPs that cover Dorset, also has ambitious and impressive plans for the future.

Quote: Andy Gritt, Service and Clinical Lead for the Armed Forces Community Health and Wellbeing Team at Dorset HealthCare, said: “It is great that the hard work that the team is doing to support our armed forces veterans and their families is receiving recognition. I am personally very excited to have been nominated and to be the regional winner for this category is extremely humbling.”

 

The Excellence in Urgent and Emergency Care Award:

Regional champion: Home First Team (Bath)

Nominated by: Mrs Wera Hobhouse MP

Reason for nomination: An excellent project which has demonstrated a unique approach to getting patients home from hospital quickly and safely, working closely with families.

Quote: Kerrie Hopson, RUH Home First clinical lead, said: “We are thrilled and honoured to be recognised for our work and nominated for this NHS national award. Home First is a real team effort, a system wide project requiring health, social care and third sector colleagues to work together to improve discharge.  It’s rewarding to know we’re all working with the shared goal of getting more patients home, on their feet, and regaining their independence”.”

Clare O’Farrell, Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Home First team member said “Each of the team is inspirational in their desire to get more patients home from hospital, focused on the needs of each individual patient and their families”

 

The Excellence in Primary Care Award:

Regional champion: Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne GP Federation (known as CLICK CHAMP (Somerset)

Nominated by: Marcus Fysh MP

Reason for nomination: An impressive project where a number of different health and social care professions have come together to address some of the local challenges in primary care. The judges liked the holistic approach that has been taken to target vulnerable and at risk patient groups.

Quote: “We are delighted to have been nominated by our local MP, Marcus Fysh, for the prestigious NHS70 parliamentary awards.

“As a small group of eight GP practices, the CLICK GP Federation (Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne) works together to serve the health needs of some 50,000 patients.  As a group of practices, we promote good health and deliver effective and sustainable healthcare to our patients and the NHS.

“The federation has taken part in a number of pilot schemes which have brought together a team of professionals which we call the CHAMP service (Community Health Alliance of Multidisciplinary Professionals). The team includes a pharmacist, physical activity advisor, emergency care practitioners or even village agents, to support patients, some of whom have quite complex needs.

“Although we can operate separately, patients and team members have come to see the benefits of primary care professionals collaborating more closely together. Not only does it benefit patient care but it also helps eases the workload upon individual health staff and colleagues.”

 

The Person-Centred Care Champion Award:

Regional champion: Dr Shelagh O’Riordan (Kent)

Nominated by: Helen Whately MP

Reason for nomination: Shelagh has championed multi-disciplinary team working and inspired others to work in a more integrated way for the benefit of patients. Her work is clearly having an impact with reductions in the amount of time people are spending in hospital.

Quote: Dr Shelagh O’Riordan, consultant geriatrician at Kent Community Health NHS FT said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have won this nomination for this NHS70 award, especially as it is in the category of person-centred care. Anything I have achieved since I started this new role has been because I have worked with amazing teams, both in Faversham Cottage Hospital and with our new Community Frailty Team. I am determined to continue trying to improve the services we provide to frail older people in East Kent, putting the patients at the centre of any plan we make.”

 

The Future NHS Award, sponsored by Health HR UK:

Regional champion: TIHM (Technology Integrated Health Management) (Surrey) Nominated by: Michael Gove; Chris Grayling; Sam Gymiah MP

Reason for nomination: This pioneering work has clearly impressed three local MPs and describes an exciting future for the NHS. It uses internet enabled devices with artificial intelligence to keep people with dementia safe at home and early indications show positive results. There are clear plans for future development working in partnership with others.

Quote: Dr Helen Rostill, Director of Innovation and Development at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted our pioneering TIHM (Technology Integrated Health Management) for dementia study, designed to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers, has been voted the regional winner of the NHS Future category in the prestigious NHS 70 Parliamentary Awards.  This is fantastic recognition for all of the people involved in bringing about the study: from NHS staff to partner organisations and, of course, the people with dementia and their carers who have participated in the study.”

 

The Healthier Communities Award:

Regional champion: Gary Deighton, Community Engagement Team (Gloucs)

Nominated by: Mark Harper MP

Reason for nomination: This is an excellent example of how social prescribing can enable a whole community to have good physical and mental health. Gary and his team are providing a fantastic service to help the people of the Forest of Dean look after themselves and each other, both to prevent ill health and to assist with recovery.

Quote: Gary Deighton, Healthy Lifestyles Coordinator said: “I would like to thank Mark Harper MP for nominating the Community Engagement Team for this award in recognition of the work we carry out in the local community. This award is as much for local residents as it is for the team. Our achievements wouldn’t be possible without the support of local people and their willingness to engage with team to help improve their own lives.”

 

The Care and Compassion Award:

Regional champion: Clock Tower Surgery (Exeter)

Nominated by: Ben Bradshaw MP

Reason for nomination: This surgery looks after a group of patients that can have difficulty accessing GP services. The staff are dedicated to providing an excellent service to the homeless and vulnerably housed. The practice has been judged “outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission and praised for its collaborative working, innovation and efficiency which has resulted in improved patient experience and outcomes.

Quote: Rachael Hallam, Practice Manager at Clock Tower Surgery said:

“Everyone who works at the Clock Tower is passionate about the NHS and helping Exeter’s homeless and we’re thrilled that the surgery has been chosen as the regional champion in the care and compassion category of the NHS70 Parliamentary Awards.

“Relocating to the CoLab, an integrated wellbeing and innovation hub, has provided us with a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with agencies across a number of sectors, such as addiction, housing, and mental health, in order to make a real difference to the lives of some of the city’s most disadvantaged individuals and recognition in such prestigious awards is very welcome testament to that.”

 

The Patient and Public Involvement Award:

Regional champion: Chris and Steve Beal (Southampton)

Nominated by: Royston Smith MP

Reason for nomination: These two individuals have dedicated a considerable amount of their own time to ensuring patients and the public have been actively involved in a number of health and care projects across Southampton and deserve to be recognised for the significant amount of support they have given health and social care.

Quote: Chris and Steve Beal said: “We were both surprised and pleased to be nominated, we feel as citizens of the city we should get involved and try to change things where possible for people.

“We have loved being part of the group Consult and Challenge and also the big project of Let’s Loop Southampton, where we are trying to make shops, doctors surgeries and public places aware of deafness, as this is affecting not just the elderly but younger people as well.”

 

The Lifetime Achievement Award:

Regional champion: Rose Bennett (Portsmouth)

Nominated by: Stephen Morgan MP

Reason for nomination: The four shortlisted candidates for this award would all have been worthy recipients, but the judges chose 75-year-old Rose because she one of many “unsung heroes” who form the back bone of the NHS.  She has not only worked (and is still working!) with dedication in facilities service but has always gone the extra mile to engage with patients to make their stay as pleasant as possible.

Quote: Rose said, “I’ve really enjoyed working in the NHS and working for patients and staff at St. James Hospital. I’ve always been happy there and I’ve seen so much change over my lifetime. My family, including my Mum and Auntie worked at St. James. My two daughters are carrying on the family legacy within the NHS with nearly 26 years’ service each, which makes me extremely proud.”

Congratulating Rose, Solent NHS Trust’s Chief Executive, Sue Harriman, said, “Rose thoroughly deserves this recognition and we are all delighted for her. This nomination means that Rose’s contribution to the NHS will be formally recognised and celebrated within our organisation and by the wider community.

“Rose is a real character with so many stories to tell about her time within the NHS and the changes she has experienced during her 46 year career.

“Many people enter the NHS as a vocation – however, when NHS heroes are recognised it goes a long way in uplifting spirits. Well done Rose and thank you for dedicating your working life to the service.”

 

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors

The NHS marks its 70th birthday on July 5th 2018, and the NHS70 Parliamentary Awards is part of a range of activities being organised by NHS England and NHS Improvement to mark this milestone, and the achievements of the NHS and those who work for and with it.

These range from ceremonies for NHS staff in Westminster Abbey and York Minster, the special 10p NHS coin released by The Royal Mint and new resources for schools to engage children and young people to think about a career in the NHS, to local  open days, exhibitions and other events being staged by hospitals and other health organisations.

People and organisations are also encouraged to take part in the NHS Big 7Tea, with tea parties happening across the country to mark the birthday, sharing their NHS stories and raising money for one of over 250 dedicated NHS charities.

Find out more about NHS70 celebrations and how to get involved at www.nhs70.nhs.uk.

Further information on the NHS70 Parliamentary Awards is available at www.nhs70awards.co.uk.

For more information please contact Jodie Fulton, Communications and Engagement Manager and South Region Lead for NHS70:

Jodie.fulton1@nhs.net  or 07860 180389