Ashton & Belfast Trust reach for gold at London Healthcare Award Finals
Excitement is building ahead of this Friday’s prestigious Advancing Healthcare Awards in London where Ashton Community Trust will find out if its partnership physiotherapy service has impressed the judges.
The physiotherapy service, provided through Ashton’s Bridge of Hope department supported individuals physically or psychologically impacted by the conflict who were experiencing chronic pain with a range of clinical and non-clinical interventions. The service was made possible with support from the Victims and Survivors Service.
This Friday Irene Sherry from Ashton and Francis McMonagle of Belfast Health & Social Care Trust (BH&SCT) will go to London to hear the results of their category, The Guardian Award for Innovation in Mental Health Services.
Their nomination is being judged against two others which includes: Carers exercise and information group NHS Grampian and Sport Aberdeen and May Contain Nuts Theatre Company Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.
Ashton’s Head of Victims and Mental Health Services Irene Sherry said: “We are so looking forward to this event and no matter what the result – I know that Ashton and Belfast Trust are delighted to be considered alongside other great healthcare partnerships.
“We are based in the heart of North Belfast and deliver services to those who most need them. Working with our partners in health we can make a difference and this is particularly true in an area that endures significant health and life inequalities.”
BH&SCT Physiotherapist Francis McMonagle added: “We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for the mental health award, which last year drew a record entry for the 11 year history of the Advancing Healthcare Awards. Despite being extremely under-utilised, Physiotherapy has a key role to play in the effective multi-disciplinary management of patients with mental health issues.”
Allied health professionals, healthcare scientists and those who work alongside them in support roles from right across England, Scotland, Wales and NI will be judged against each other in the event sponsored by The Guardian newspaper. The Awards aim to recognise and reward projects and professionals that lead innovative healthcare practice and make a real difference to patients’ lives. They are unique in that they cover professional and specialists group across the regions whose achievements so often go unnoticed.