South West’s health and care staff honoured in the 2024 Parliamentary Awards

The NHS in the South West is celebrating the remarkable achievements of staff and teams who have won regional categories in the 2024 Parliamentary Awards, after being nominated by their local MPs.

This year’s competition spans ten categories, including a new award for excellence in education and training.

All winners will now go on to represent the South West in the national awards ceremony, alongside those from other English regions, at the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster on Monday 14 October.

Elizabeth O’Mahony, Regional Director of NHS England in the South West, said: “Every year, I’m delighted to see our dedicated staff and volunteers across the South West receive this well-deserved recognition.

“Despite the difficulties and day-to-day challenges that we know the NHS faces, our teams continue to deliver outstanding care with unwavering commitment.”

“I’d like to congratulate every one of the winners and thank all the MPs who have taken the time to acknowledge the exceptional work happening in their constituencies.

“I also want to extend my thanks to all the amazing nominees, with a record 79 being put forward this year, some by more than one MP.”

Steve Moore, Chief Executive of NHS Devon said: “I’m incredibly proud and humbled to see so many of our regional winners are from Devon. It highlights the excellent care and innovative thinking we have locally, and I’m so pleased that people who have dedicated their careers to improving services for patients are recognised in this way.”

The 2024 Devon winners, selected by NHS leaders in the South West, are: 

The Excellence in Mental Health Care Award:

• Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service, Devon Partnership NHS Trust
• Nominated by Ms Kerry McCarthy MP

The Future NHS Award:

• Northern Devon Heart Failure Remote Monitoring Project, led by Angela Tithecott, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – Northern Services (Royal Devon)
• Nominated by Ian Roome MP

The Nursing and Midwifery Award:

• Louise Barraclough, Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centre
• Nominated by David Reed MP, Richard Foord MP, Ian Roome MP and Steve Race MP

The Excellence in Primary Care and Community Award:

• Belle’s Place Primary Care project, Combe Coastal Practice/Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Nominated by Ian Roome MP

The Excellence in Education and Training Award:

• Dr Yvonne Neubauer, MSI Reproductive Choices UK
• Nominated by Steve Race MP and Karin Smyth MP

The Volunteer Award:

• Lyndsey Withers, Plymouth
• Nominated by Luke Pollard MP

The Devon winners for 2024, with comments from the judges: 

MP Name: Kerry McCarthy
Awards Category: The Excellence in Mental Health Care Award

Nominee Name: Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service, Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Nominated for: A Care Home Liaison service (CHLS), with practitioners providing in-reach assessment and support to care homes across Bristol, offering person-centred strategies and guidance to meet residents’ dementia needs and to promote wellbeing.

“The Bristol Dementia and Wellbeing Service has taken an innovative approach to developing dementia training for staff in care homes, using ‘aging simulation suits’ – wearable devices that recrate physical and sensory impairments associated with older age.

“The simulation-based training has been evidenced to be effective in both increasing insight and awareness and changing practice across 20 care homes, reducing stigma and misconceptions around dementia.

“The impact on care was seen in one resident where staff didn’t understand his dementia. They thought he was “misbehaving on purpose” and wanted him to leave. After training staff attitudes changed: they realised he was frustrated and anxious so adopted different care approaches. He became more settled and therefore he remained there.”

MP Name: Ian Roome
Awards Category:  The Future NHS Award supported by medical defence union

Nominee Name: Northern Devon Heart Failure Remote Monitoring Project, led by Angela Tithecott at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – Northern Services (Royal Devon)

Nominated for: Remote monitoring at home for selected patients with heart failure, giving people greater control, with less travel and fewer unnecessary hospital admissions, enabling the heart failure team to prioritise face-to-face appointments with those patients who needed them most.

Comments:

“The work Angela has led on has enabled individuals with heart failure to take more ownership of their health condition and gain more control of their lives.

“Suitable individuals have been given the opportunity to monitor their health from home using a remote monitoring platform and equipment that directly connects to the heart failure team.

“This allows the people to record and send the team daily information about their symptoms – blood pressure, heart rate and weight. To date, the pilot has demonstrated that those being supported can be discharged quicker and have improved access to care.”

MP Name: David Reed, Richard Foord, Ian Roome and Steve Race
Awards Category:  The Nursing and Midwifery Award

Nominee Name: Louise Barraclough at NHS Devon

Nominated for: Her role as Lead Nurse and Specialist Safeguarding Lead for the Devon & Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC), building a team of specialist and forensic nurses who provide exceptional care.

Comments:

“Louise has developed a highly regarded service that cares for, supports and advocates for people and children who have experienced sexual assault.

“She has demonstrated innovation and tenacity in her approaches to improving services for those that use them, as well as ensuring that colleagues providing care receive high-quality, evidence-based training to ensure best practice is followed.

“By sharing her knowledge and expertise she has built a network of people from health and multi-agency partners to ensure that those who use the service receive sensitive care that will not add to their trauma. A true inspiration and role model.”

MP Name: Ian Roome
Awards Category: The Excellence in Primary Care and Community Award

Nominee Name: Belle’s Place Primary Care project, Combe Coastal Practice/Royal Devon University Healthcare Trust

Nominated for: Outreach project via Belle’s Place Café in Ilfracombe, focused on understanding and improving access to primary care for some 200 vulnerable people via drop-in clinics and appointments spanning multiple, complex needs.

Comments:

“This exceptional project focuses on understanding and improving access to primary care for the most- vulnerable people living in Ilfracombe, who have significant health needs, chronic illnesses, mental health difficulties, and a lower-than-average life expectancy.

“It embraces the need to take primary care services into the community, re-imagines the ‘front door’ of general practice and shows what can be achieved through collaborative working with the community, as feedback from a patient attests: ‘Society will always look down on people like me. This is a place I can come…’

MP Name: Steve Race and Karin Smyth
Awards Category: The Excellence in Education and Training Award

Nominee Name: Dr Yvonne Neubauer at MSI Reproductive Choices UK

Nominated for: Setting up free, advanced abortion training for surgeons in the South West, after realising that access for pregnant women at 18 weeks or over was poor, even non-existent, forcing them to go to London. Dr Neubauer’s work has now enabled a Bristol service to open for complex abortion care, with additional hubs in Exeter and Plymouth.

Comments:

“Amongst some excellent nominations for the Excellence in Education and Training Award Dr Yvonne Neubauer’s work has been remarkable in addressing the national shortage of abortion surgeons and improving access to complex abortion care.

“Her efforts have made a significant impact on women’s health, particularly in the South West region of England. By offering free specialist surgical training, Dr Neubauer has not only expanded abortion capacity but also contributed to healthcare workforce recruitment and retention.

“Her vision and hard work have ensured that more women can access essential healthcare services in the South West without having to travel far. Truly impressive!”

MP Name: Luke Pollard
Awards Category: The Volunteer Award

Nominee Name: Lyndsey Withers, Plymouth

Nominated for: Voluntary work across Plymouth, including at the Plymouth Soup Run; at Shekinah’s drop-in centre for people affected by homelessness and other disadvantages; at Plymouth University Medical School, as teacher and mentor; at Salvation Army hostel, Devonport Lifehouse; at University Hospitals Plymouth; and with GPs and hospital staff to encourage testing for hepatitis C.

Comment:

“Lyndsey Withers has been chosen in recognition of her dedication and selfless contribution to improving the health and lives of some of the most-vulnerable people in Plymouth.

“She exemplifies the true spirit of volunteerism, dedicating her time to numerous projects that span a number of sectors – including the NHS, primary care, social care, VTS, academic and research sectors – to inspire and make positive change for citizens, patients and staff.

“Lyndsey acts locally but her impact has been far-reaching as she is willing to share knowledge and expertise that empower others to replicate initiatives and contribute to research projects, leading to lasting improvements in health outcomes and ensuring that a patient voice is heard at all times”