It was celebrations all round yesterday as organisers announced the winners of the first ever Solihull Together for Better Lives awards and there was great news for the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.
Phil Hall (pictured), Senior Nurse for Dementia at Solihull Hospital, part of the Heart of England Trust, went away with the award for Health Professional of the Year.
Phil heads up the Dementia and Delirium Outreach Team at Solihull Hospital, identifying people with dementia and delirium who use the Hospital and improving their experience while they are there. The team also support the relatives of patients and train and educate staff on complex issues to help them best care for their patients.
The Solihull Together for Better Lives awards were developed to recognise and celebrate outstanding work by individuals and organisations in Solihull to support older people in the community.
Dr Patrick Brooke, Accountable Officer for Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group, representing the award organisers, said, “We hope that the Solihull Together for Better Lives awards will help to raise awareness of the outstanding work which is going on across the public, private and voluntary sectors to support our older residents. And, of course, from local people, friends and neighbours too. Our aim is for these awards to become an annual celebration to showcase how we are working together to improve care and support in the borough.”
Dr Brooke continued: “It has been a real privilege to meet so many of the finalists and winners and hear their stories. What they are doing, whether in a professional or voluntary capacity, to improve the quality of people’s lives, is amazing and inspiring. We have a lot to be proud of in Solihull.”
Jacqueline Aldred, Chair of Healthwatch Solihull and Chair of the Awards judging panel, commented: “These awards are a first for Solihull and mark an exciting new way of working together. They are a great example of how we want to move forward, with our shared aim of making life better for people in the borough.”
The full list of categories and winners is:
Care Professional of the Year
Mandy Hannigan, Promoting Independence Coordinator, Supported Integrated Discharge Service
Health Professional of the Year
Phillip Hall, Senior Nurse Dementia, Solihull Hospital
Care Team of the Year
Swallows Meadow Court
Primary Care Service of the Year
Hampton Surgery
Award for Dementia-friendly Service
Solihull Council’s Arts and Libraries Service
Award for Collaborative Working
Solihull Partnership’s Winter Warmth Campaign Project Team
Award for Outstanding Project Delivered in the Community
Paul Murtagh, Walking Football at Beechcroft Multi Sports Community Club
Thursday Club, Solihull Synagogue
Award for an Outstanding Initiative in Supported Living
The Team at Phoenix House Extra Care Service
Award for Outstanding Customer Experience
George Fentham Trust Lunch Club, Hampton-in-Arden
Award for Outstanding Neighbour
Alan Jones and Andrew Orchard
Chairman’s Award
Solihull Community Housing
Visit www.solihulltogether.co.uk to read more about the winners and awards.
