Southport MP Damien Moore Nominates Innovative NHS Projects for National Awards

Member of Parliament for Southport, Damien Moore, has submitted nominations for the official NHS Parliamentary Awards in recognition of staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

The NHS Parliamentary Awards offer a chance to celebrate NHS staff, carers, and volunteers for all the hard work they do to look after our loved ones when they are at their most vulnerable.

So many staff have worked tirelessly to put patients first, and this is something that the awards aim to recognise and reward. As part of the NHS’s 75th birthday this year, they will once again be looking to celebrate those who have gone the extra mile to support patients. Mr. Moore has submitted outstanding nominees for the 2023 Awards who have innovated, impressed, and made a real difference to how the health and care system provides care for patients.

For the Future NHS Award and the Excellence in Primary Care and Community Care Award, Mr. Moore has nominated the Southport and Formby Primary Care Network Digital Hub. In particular, Mr. Moore has praised the hub’s innovative use of technology and Artificial Intelligence to improve workflows and reduce patient wait times.

For The Volunteer Award, Mr. Moore has nominated the Southport and Ormskirk Hospital Volunteers Discharge Support Service. This is a volunteer-led service supporting some of the more vulnerable members of our community after they leave hospital. The pilot scheme sees five committed volunteers contact patients discharged from four wards within hours of leaving hospital, checking on the patient’s health and to see if any additional help or interventional community support is required.

For the Nursing and Midwifery Award, Mr. Moore has nominated Bereavement Midwife, Jo Unsworth, for her work in creating the Rainbow Team to provide extra support for parents-to-be who have in a previous pregnancy had a miscarriage, stillbirth, or early neonatal death. Care is tailored by the team to meet the needs of these women who now have a specific antenatal clinic and hypnobirthing class, and receive extra specialised support to reduce anxiety levels and improve the health and wellbeing for both the mother and child.

Since the awards began in 2018, over 450 Members of Parliament nominated an individual or organisation for an award. In 2022, alone over 280 MPs, including Mr. Moore, nominated over 700 individuals and organisations for an award. Those selected for the shortlist of the Parliamentary Awards 2023 will be invited to an award ceremony in Westminster to celebrate their fantastic achievements.

Damien Moore, Member of Parliament for Southport, said:

 
“Our hardworking staff are what make the NHS as great as it is. The stories I hear from local health services make me extremely proud of the fact that our town contains people willing to provide such fantastic care to our most vulnerable residents.

“NHS staff, volunteers, and carers make a true difference to the lives of their patients, and so it is with great pride that I this year nominate Jo Unsworth, the Southport and Ormskirk Hospital Volunteers Discharge Support Service, and the Southport and Formby Primary Care Network Digital Hub.

“I sincerely hope the award judges recognise their invaluable contributions to Southport, and rightly declare them winners in their categories.”
Professor Stephen Powis, chair of the judging panel and NHS National Medical Director, said:

 
“Throughout the NHS’s history there are examples of how staff and volunteers have contributed to making the health service the greatest care team in the world.

“The NHS Parliamentary Awards are a unique opportunity for MPs to highlight the amazing work done by NHS staff in their local areas, and I look forward to working with all of the judges to review the nominations we receive.”