It was a remarkable night celebrating success at the Northern Ireland Healthcare Awards, as South Eastern Trust staff were recognised across multiple categories, demonstrating the exceptional talent and dedication of staff.
The Rheumatology Team, Dermatology Biologics Team, Specialist Palliative Care Pharmacy Team, Antimicrobial Pharmacy Team and the ACORN Therapeutic and Mental Health Service, were winners in the Innovation in Rheumatology Treatment Award, Mental Health Team of the Year, Management of Inflammatory Skin Conditions, Hospital Pharmacy Team of the Year and Infections Management Team of the Year categories.
Congratulations also to Trust finalists the Aortic Valve Assessment Team, Diabetes Remission Team, Ulster Hospital Diabetes Team, Ward 27 Mental Health Inpatient Unit, Ulster Hospital, Dialectical Behaviour Team, Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Service, Healthcare in Prison Team, Healthcare in Prison Primary Healthcare Team and the Community Addiction Team.
The Northern Ireland Healthcare Awards, organised by Kyron Media, is an annual event that celebrates excellence in the healthcare sector across Northern Ireland. The awards recognise the outstanding contributions of healthcare professionals, teams and organisations in categories like oncology, cardiology, pharmacy and more. The event highlights the innovative efforts and achievements of individuals and teams dedicated to improving patient care and advancing healthcare services in the region.
The Rheumatology Team was awarded the Rheumatology Treatment award for their innovative work in utilising the wider skill mix of the team by reducing the number of patients who required to be seen by a Consultant for an initial assessment who needed to be seen face-to-face. In the pilot, of 100 patients assessed, only one required Consultant follow-up. Utilising the skills of an Advanced Practice Rheumatology Physiotherapist, will go a long way in continuing to manage the waiting lists.
The ACORN Therapeutic and Mental Health Service won the Mental Health Team of the Year Award for developing a cohesive, person-centred service that ensures every young person receives timely mental health support, bespoke interventions and a smooth transition to community care. By working flexibly and creatively, the team engages both young people and staff with relational working, with hope and understanding at the heart of their approach. Their ultimate goal is to reduce risks, promote stability and improve long-term outcomes for young people.
The Dermatology Biologics Team picked up the Management of Inflammatory Skin Conditions Award for working collaboratively together ensuring a co-ordinated approach to caring for patients with inflammatory conditions on specialist medications. The team put the patient at the heart of what they do, ensuring high-quality care is provided with the best possible outcomes.
The Hospital Pharmacy Team of the Year award was presented to the Specialist Palliative Care Pharmacy Team for their projects and service improvements that have proved to have a positive impact on discharging palliative care patients from hospital, reducing delays and ensuring medicines are tailored to patients individual needs and personal opinions which helps to get the best outcomes from treatments. The team improves the quality of life of patients by reducing complications and ensuring that patients and their families are involved in the decisions.
The Antimicrobial Pharmacy Team was awarded the Infections Management Team of the Year Award. Along with regional colleagues, they reviewed and improved the safety of the prescribing of complex antibiotics in encompass, the electronic care system, since it went live. This was achieved by identifying a number of measures that once built into the system, supported staff in the prescribing and administration of particular antibiotics. By auditing the improvements, they were able to demonstrate a significant and positive impact on patient safety.
The Trust is proud of all its nominees and winners for their hard work, dedication and commitment to improving patient care. Their contributions reflect the Trust’s ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence in healthcare.
