Health care heroes honoured in Bristol Health and Care Awards
Some of Bristol’s most hardworking and talented health workers were honoured at a sparkling awards ceremony on Thursday 10 March. The Bristol Post’s first ever Health and Care Awards, organised in partnership with Bristol Health Partners, were hosted by
Some of Bristol’s most hardworking and talented health workers were honoured at a sparkling awards ceremony on Thursday 10 March. The Bristol Post’s first ever Health and Care Awards, organised in partnership with Bristol Health Partners, were hosted by Private Eye’s medical columnist Dr Phil Hammond at the Bristol Marriott Hotel.
The winners
GP Practice of the Year
Bristol University Student Health Service
GP Practice of the year went to Dr Emma Webb at the Bristol University Student health service. Dr Webb stands out as a fantastic GP at the Bristol University Student Health Service, because of her calm, caring and professional attitude. During her 16 years working at the surgery she has helped thousands of students through a number of issues including eating disorders, depression, and sexual abuse.
She said:
“It’s fantastic for the whole team to win. And being nominated by the students is great. It’s really nice to know they appreciate what we do.”
Health Care Professional of the Year
Sue Brand at Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
A major winner of the night was Sue Brand who was awarded the grand title of Health Care Professional of the Year. Sue is based at Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre. The germ cell cancer specialist nurse offers advice and support to the hundreds of patients across the South West who are diagnosed with testicular cancers.
She said:
“It’s absolutely outstanding to win – there was a lot of strong competition. But it’s important to raise the profile of men with testicular cancer because here in the South West it’s not talked about much.”
Early Years Award
Sandra Tanner at the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
For her years of helping struggling new mums, Sandra Tanner was given the Early Years Award for her work with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers. Mrs Tanner helps hundreds of women every year who are struggling to breastfeed their baby. Sandra works around the clock, offering help at support groups in Bishopsworth, Hartcliffe and Withywood.
She said:
“I’m so honoured and humbled to have won. Bristol City Council has always been at the forefront of breastfeeding schemes so I’ve always felt well supported with what I do in my voluntary and paid work. ”
Healthy Neighbourhood Award
Wellspring Healthy Living Centre
The Healthy Neighbourhood Award went to the founders of the Wellspring Healthy Living Centre, in Lawrence Hill. It homes GPs, health visitors and midwives, and is owned and led by local residents for over a decade. Whether residents need acupuncture, help with benefits forms, a place to express their creativity or somewhere to learn how to improve their family’s diet, there is an opportunity at Wellspring for them.
Anne Joshine said:
“We ’re very pleased, it’s a very special award for the community. We are an organisation run by local people so this is an award for the local community.”
Best Patient and Public Involvement Award
Breast MRI Team at North Bristol NHS Trust in partnership with BUST (Breast Unit Support Trust)
The Best Patient & Public Involvement Award was won by the Breast MRI Team at North Bristol NHS Trust in partnership with BUST (Breast Unit Support Trust). This team has worked tirelessly to improve women’s MRI experience by handing out more detailed information about what a patient can expect prior to arriving.
Jo Robertson said:
“We help women feel less stressed and worried about having an MRI scan. It’s a new service so it’s amazing to have won this award.”
Volunteer of the Year
Derek Dominey, supporting people with dementia in Bristol and South Gloucestershire
Volunteer of the Year went to Derek Dominey at voluntary organisations supporting people with dementia in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Derek has been a driving force in the development for care of people with dementia in the Bristol area. He devotes his time to raising awareness and making sure those in power offer more support for carers and sufferers. Derek ’s own personal experience of his wife developing dementia spurred him on to encourage change locally for sufferers and their families. Derek is a patient representative on the Dementia Health Integration Team.
He said:
“I’m accepting this award in memory of and honour of my wife. I would also like to pay tribute to all the volunteers, without them the NHS would not run, they do a wonderful job.”
Voluntary and Community Sector Team of the Year
Freewheelers EVS
Voluntary and Community Sector Team of the Year was awarded to Melanie Rowbottom at Freewheelers EVS. This group ferries key clinical items and medical supplies to hospitals or other health centres around the region on motorcycles for free. Riders work from their own homes from 7pm to 7am each evening Monday to Thursday, and 24 hours a day from 7pm Friday through to 7am Monday. They work at night and on bank holidays, running 365 days a year.
She said:
“We all do it because we enjoy it and we want to give something back to the community. We save the NHS around £280,000 a year. It’s great to win this award.”
Mental Health Team of the Year
Dementia Wellbeing Service
Mental Health Team of the Year was won by Paul Knocker, service manager at the Dementia Wellbeing Service. This new service provides a single point of access for referrals and advice to professionals, as well as people with dementia and their families and carers. It ultimately makes navigating the health system for patients and carers easier and means the correct support is on hand.
He said:
“It’s great recognition for all the hard work the staff have put in in the first year of this new service. We ’re all really pleased.”
Hospital Team of the Year
Enhanced Recovery Team, North Bristol NHS Trust
The impressive title of Hospital Team of the Year was won by Enhanced Recovery Team at North Bristol NHS Trust. This team have worked hard to ensure patients are discharged from hospital without delay, freeing up beds for more needy patients. They have worked with wards across the hospital to not only sustain performance but deliver new innovation and improvements in patient safety.
Anne Pullyblank said:
“We all work really hard to make sure everything is run efficiently with the patient’s interests always put first. The team are always doing something new. Over the last year we have started working with the breast surgery team and are constantly expanding what we do.”
Rising Star Award
James Henderson at North Bristol NHS Trust
The Rising Star Award was won by consultant plastic and hand surgeon James Henderson at North Bristol NHS Trust. As well as working as consultant, treating people in life and death situations, Mr Henderson also works an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Bristol – teaching the medical stars of the future.
He said:
“I’m a bit surprised, I’ve won academic awards but this is a first with this kind of awards. I work with a lot of impressive people who are doing lots of good things. I was just lucky enough to have been nominated.”
Health Campaign of the Year
It’s in the Bag
Health Campaign of the Year was won by It’s in the Bag. This volunteer-led charity provides hands-on support for men with testicular cancer in the South-West, as well as raising awareness of the disease across the region. Its big campaign in 2015 / 2016 was called “Match Fit” which saw awareness packs being sent out to football clubs.
Lewis Short said:
“It’s an award for testicular cancer sufferers. Lots of people feel ashamed when they find out they have this type of cancer but they shouldn’t do. We want to raise awareness about it and get people talking about it.”
Best Innovation Award
Andrew Freeman-Fielding at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Best Innovation Award was won by Andrew Freeman-Fielding at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. Andrew is a nurse who has worked tirelessly to assist with rolling out a new trust-wide integrated critical care clinical information system. This paperless service documentation system is a world-class development and enables the team to assess, plan and treat patients with more accuracy and efficiency.
He said:
“I’m so surprised to have won, I work with some excellent people. The system has helped us improve care and improve efficiency.”
Research Impact Award
Professor AV Ramanan at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
The Research Impact Award went to Professor A V Ramanan at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. Professor Ramanan trialled a new drug which halts a serious eye disease that can cause blindness in children. Due to his study’s huge success rate the pioneering treatment is now being used across the globe.
He said:
“It’s great for the entire team to have won this and for all the participants in this study. It’s also good for child research and rare diseases research. I’m pleased Bristol can have an impact on a national and international level.”
Together We Achieve Award
Energise, exercise-based cancer rehabilitation at Easton Leisure Centre
The Together We Achieve Award was won Energise at Easton Leisure Centre. This fitness project helps cancer sufferers rebuild their energy through gym sessions. Energise exercise classes are designed specifically for individuals who have been affected by cancer and whose quality of life can be maintained or improved through taking part in regular, supervised exercise classes with cancer rehab specific qualified fitness instructors.
Paul Emsley said:
“There are lots of schemes similar to ours running across Bristol which are all doing excellent work. The feedback we get from people is that they feel better and they have less chance of the cancer returning.”
Outstanding Achievement
Dr Alan Whone at the Bristol Brain Centre, North Bristol NHS Trust
Neurologist Alan Whone, who has given hope to hundreds of Parkinson’s disease patients across the globe with his pioneering research, was one of the stars of the night. The consultant, who is based at Southmead Hospital’s Brain Centre, won the Outstanding Achievement Award for his trials into finding a cure for the degenerative condition. Alan is a Director of the Parkinson’s and Other Movement Disorders Health Integration Team.
He said:
“The people with Parkinson’s who are taking part in the research really deserve this award. They are taking the risk and it’s their commitment that makes this possible.“We also have a team of 50 to 60 people who collaborate on this – so it really is a village – of everybody who are dedicating 100 per cent. It is very much a shared award with people who are trying to change the status quo. The status quo being it is OK to watch these people slowly decline, which we believe is wrong.”
