The South Eastern Trust swept the boards in multiple categories at the Northern Ireland Advancing Healthcare Awards, demonstrating the exceptional talent and dedication of our Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), Healthcare Scientists and support teams.
The Advancing Healthcare Awards celebrate the important and innovative work of AHPs, such as physiotherapist and dietitians, Healthcare Scientists and those who work with them across Northern Ireland, showcasing excellence in leadership, service improvement, research and innovation.
Dedicated Speech and Language Therapist, Caroline Wilson, was recognised with a Service User Award, nominated by Sarah Lowry, a mum who says her son’s life has been transformed by Caroline’s input in the Knockmore Primary School, Speech and Language Therapy Unit.
The Cardiac Physiology Team, including David Moorhead, Senior Chief Cardiac Physiologist and Noel Black, Principal Cardiac Physiologist, were joint winners in the Outstanding Leadership category for their pioneering initiative that has successfully reduced waiting times for patients requiring cardiac monitors.
Podiatry Assistant Practitioner, Kathy Donaghy Smith, was one of nine professionals across Northern Ireland to be honoured with a Rising Star Award, recognising her commitment and contribution to Podiatry Services within the Trust.
Speech and Language Therapist, Alison Keys, along with Dr Orla Duffy and Rosalind Rogers from Ulster University and Dr Claire Rainey from University College Cork received the Masters Clinical Research Award for innovative research exploring Artificial Intelligence in Videofluoroscopy and Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing Analysis. Alison is currently seconded to the Department of Health as AHP Lead for Workforce, Education and Regulation.
The Paediatric Complex Needs Physiotherapy Team were the AHP winners in the Award for Service Improvement category, recognised for their collaborative and impactful work across professional teams and with services users.
Lead Occupational Therapist, Claire Sheridan Henry, Occupational Therapist, Anna Milligan and House 10 staff were highly commended in the Creative and Innovative Practice category for their fantastic work in mental health resettlement, from a hospital to a home project.
Director of Primary Care and Older People, Veronica Cleland, praised the success of the Trust’s winners and finalists. “I am incredibly proud of all our staff who were recognised at the Advancing Healthcare Awards. Their achievements highlight the exceptional commitment, innovation and compassion that our Allied Health Professionals , Healthcare Scientists and support staff bring to their roles every day. These awards are a testament to the high standard of care delivered across the South Eastern Trust and the continuous drive to improve services for patients.”
Congratulations also go to finalists Leanne Holmes, Janet Eves and Alan Thomson, First Contact Physiotherapists, who were shortlisted in the Creative and Innovative Practice category for establishing a Primary Care multi-disciplinary pain review clinic and to Gemma Moss, Chief Respiratory Physiologist and her team in the Outstanding Leadership category who were recognised for developing a new CPAP therapy model.
