News story

Health awards finalists announced

Military and civilian medics who provide innovative healthcare for serving personnel and veterans have been shortlisted in the Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards (MCHPA).

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The awards showcase the best of healthcare in the military, the NHS and the voluntary sector in nine categories, with 27 projects across the country going through to the finals.

Winners are due to be announced in November 2011 at a ceremony at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Andrew Robathan, said:

When I launched the MCHPA in June this year, I was confident that the outstanding service provided to our Armed Forces and veterans would be recognised in these awards.

I am delighted to see the shortlist announced today and wish every finalist the very best of luck for the awards ceremony in November.

The Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM), in partnership with University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, is recognised in four of the nine categories.

Their finalists’ work ranges from the introduction of advanced dressings for military wounds to the management of acute pain for inpatients (both military and civilian) at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

Group Captain Wendy Williams, Commanding Officer at the RCDM, said:

I am delighted to see that both uniformed and civilian members of staff working at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham have been nominated for the MCHPA.

It is important that the hard work and incredible patient outcomes that this successful partnership achieves are recognised and celebrated.

The Chief Executive of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHBFT), Julie Moore, said:

It is a fitting tribute that the dedication of the Trust’s teams and their RCDM partners has been recognised amongst the awards finalists.

Bringing these teams together over the years has provided the opportunity to build academic knowledge around pioneering clinical innovations, often performed for the first time to save lives and limbs.

Thanks to these partnerships many more people, both military personnel and NHS patients, survive injuries, when not so long ago they would have died due to the rapid loss of blood and severe trauma.

I am proud of our staff and wish them the very best of luck in their respective categories in the final.

The finalists who have worked with veterans show how health and social care provision throughout the UK can be tailored to local needs. Improving access to welfare and specialist mental healthcare has delivered outstanding results.

The awards were open to military and civilian personnel who provide health and social care to the Armed Forces, their families and veterans.

They recognise and strengthen the partnership between Britain’s military and civilian healthcare workers and provide the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the many examples of high quality care.

Health Minister Simon Burns said:

Servicemen and women give so much to our country and I am delighted that the exceptional care given to them is recognised by these awards.

Healthcare professionals from the NHS and social care provide vital support to Service personnel and it is great to see their hard work and expertise acknowledged. I wish all the finalists good luck.

Awards will be presented to the winners on 9 November 2011 at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. The ceremony will be preceded by a presentation of the care pathway from Afghanistan to rehabilitation and recovery.

This will highlight how finalists have uniquely contributed to the excellent service patients receive from the Defence Medical Services, NHS and voluntary sectors in partnership.

The finalists by category, in alphabetical order, are:

Care of Veterans
All Wales Veterans & Wellbeing Service
Local NHS Fast Track Scheme - Odstock Centre for Burns, Salisbury
Veterans First Point - NHS Lothian

Deployed Healthcare
Avoiding healthcare associated infection at Camp Bastion
Blood and plasma supply in the deployed Camp Bastion Hospital
Blood for the Battlefield - Defence Equipment and Support Medical and General Supplies Blood Supply Team/NHS Blood & Transplant

Education and Training
Defence Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Centre medical training
Making the Best Better - Defence Mental Health Services, Colchester
Major Incident Medical Management and Advanced Life Support - RCDM/NHS England

Health Improvement and Promotion
Chlamydia Screening for Junior Soldiers at Winchester
Improving Sexual Health Outcomes for Soldiers in British Forces Germany (BFG)
Skilled for Health, Health Families - Army Primary Healthcare, Tidworth

Healthcare Civilian of the Year
Mr Dunn - Local NHS Fast Track Scheme, Odstock Centre for Burns, Salisbury
Mrs Edwards - Military Acute Pain Service, RCDM/UHBFT
Ms Winters - Enhanced Occupational Therapy, RCDM

Healthcare Regular of the Year
Surgeon Commander Bland - Defence CBRN Centre
Lieutenant Colonel Jeffery - Advanced Dressing for Military Wounds, RCDM
Captain Vickerstaff, Early Trauma Rehabilitation, RCDM

Healthcare Reservist of the Year
Major Dawes - 144 Parachute Medical Squadron, 16 Medical Regiment
Major Lawrence - Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff
Lieutenant Colonel Moore - Western Health and Social Care Trust, Londonderry

Innovation and Service Development
Blood for the Battlefield - Defence Equipment and Support Medical and General Supplies Blood Supply Team/NHS Blood & Transplant
Referral Management System in Hohne Region, BFG
Advanced Dressing for Military Wounds, RCDM

Mental Health
All Wales Veterans & Wellbeing Service
Veterans First Point - NHS Lothian
Vulnerable Veterans & Adult Dependents - NHS Yorkshire & Humber/North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust

Published 28 September 2011