Four health and care teams from Cumbria have been selected from more than 600 nominations as regional winners in the 2019 NHS Parliamentary Awards.
The awards were launched in 2018 to recognise the massive contribution made by those working in and alongside the NHS. MPs in England were asked to nominate teams serving their constituents across ten categories, four of which have been awarded to Cumbrian nominations.
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 Excellence in Mental Health Care Award: Dementia Reach Out team, Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, nominated by Rory Stewart, John Stevenson & Trudy Harrison
Reach Out, the first service of its kind in the UK, is leading the way in screening and assessing patients to prevent delirium at the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital.
The Health Equalities Award: Health and Wellbeing Coaches (HAWCs), Cumbria County Council, nominated by Rory Stewart & John Woodcock.
The Health and Wellbeing Coaches use 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. This is resulting in improved resilience, engagement with local communities and social networks, and reduced contact with a number of NHS services. This is also a fantastic example of cross-organisational working.
The Wellbeing at Work Award: Better Health at Work teams from North Cumbria Health and Care System, nominated by Rory Stewart & Sue Hayman.
The Better Health at Work teams across North Cumbria worked to offer a flexible programme to motivate staff to improve their own health and as a result have been awarded the bronze Better Health at Work award. The innovative ways in which they achieved this were recognised in the nomination.
The Excellence in Primary Care Award: Familiar Faces, North Cumbria Health and Care System, nominated by Rory Stewart, John Stevenson, Trudy Harrison.
Familiar Faces is an innovative pilot project working with some of the most vulnerable people who are significant users of primary care services. The team of Psychological practitioners and living well coaches support a holistic approach; addressing the various issues which impact on people’s quality of life.
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.”
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.”
All nominations detailed what had made the teams’ work successful, the impact they have had and how the successes could be shared in other areas. Regional winners will now be shortlisted for the national awards. The awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday 10 July in the House of Commons.
