Setting the standard for Healthcare Excellence as four local charities working with family and friend carers are shortlisted for a major health award
An alliance of four Sussex based carer charities (The Carers Centre for Brighton & Hove, Care for the Carers, Amaze and Carers Support West Sussex) are proud to reveal that a pan Sussex integrated campaign, which focussed on the COVID-19 vaccination and Winter Pressures, has been shortlisted for System Led Support for Carers Award at this year’s HSJ Awards, recognising outstanding contribution to healthcare and earning the opportunity to showcase their achievements on a national platform.
The pressures faced across the healthcare sector haven’t been far from the headlines over the past 12 months – yet the quality and overriding positivity of the award entries this year highlight the enduring devotion of workers within the health and social care industry, dedicated to improving patient outcome.
A staggering 1,067 entries have been received for the HSJ Awards 2022, with 219 projects and individuals making it to the final shortlist (from across 162 organisations). The high volume – and exceptional quality – of applications is once again reflecting the breadth of innovation and care within the UK’s healthcare networks.
Now in its 42nd year, the HSJ Awards continue to provide an opportunity to shine a light on the outstanding efforts and achievements that individuals and teams across the sector deliver on a daily basis.
Of the 25 categories, four are new for 2022, representing some of the recent challenges and triumphs within the NHS. These comprise new awards for Covid Vaccination Programme, Reducing Healthcare Inequalities and Performance Recovery Award.
The judging panel was once again made up of a diverse range of highly influential and respected figures within the healthcare community, including; Sarah-Jane Marsh (Chief Executive, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s FT); David Probert (Chief Executive, University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust); Dr Bola Owolabi (Director Health Inequalities, NHS England and NHS Improvement); Eugine Yafele (Chief Executive, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust); Tracy Allen (Chief Executive Officer, Derbyshire Community Health Services Foundation Trust)
Following the thorough judging process, this alliance of four was shortlisted, ahead of the official awards ceremony to be held later this year (November 17th). Despite the tough competition, the Campaign really did stand out as a ‘success story’ worthy of a prized place on the panel’s shortlist. At this first stage of judging, the shortlist was based on ambition; outcome; value; involvement & working together and crucially, how the project might be “picked up” and replicated elsewhere for the benefit of both patients and professional colleagues.
The Carers focussed campaign worked on a two-prong approach. One, working with health professionals on carer identification (leading to a 47% increase in referrals) and two, supporting carers using three calls to actions: Be Protected (with 83% of carers reporting positive vaccination action), Be Healthy (48% increase in carer re- engagement), Be Prepared (29% increase in contingency planning).
Sonia Mangan, CEO at Carers Support comments, “This really is wonderful news – the fact we’ve been shortlisted for System Led Support for Carers Award in the HSJ Awards 2022 will undoubtedly be a huge ‘pat on the back’ for our amazingly hard working and deserving team.
“Our staff always go above and beyond to improve carer outcomes and quality of service and care – and aligning with the HSJ Awards programme really allows us to share our success as well as everything we’ve learnt through implementing our project.”
HSJ editor Alastair McLellan, adds; “On behalf of all my colleagues, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate Carers Support on being shortlisted as a finalist in the category of System Led Support for Carers Award. All of the applications represent the ‘very best of the NHS’ and often leave our esteemed panel of judges with an impossible choice!
“Year on year the number of entrants continue to rise which I find so encouraging and is testament to the effect that HSJ Awards can have on improved staff culture and morale.
“We’re all very much looking forward to welcoming our finalists to the awards ceremony in November, celebrating their impressive achievements and jointly acknowledging our values of sharing best practice, improving patient outcomes and continuously driving for better service. But we never forget that the award ceremony is not just a celebration within a night, but a platform to recognise the hard work of all our NHS staff, all year round.”
The full list of nominees for the 2022 HSJ awards can be found at https://awards.hsj.co.uk/ alongside details of the Awards partners; https://awards.hsj.co.uk/partners
The selected winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at the Battersea Evolution Centre, London on November 17th 2022.
