Health and social care professionals recognised for their work in new national awards

A team of health and care professionals from the NHS in Suffolk and north east Essex have been highly commended in the inaugural Palliative and End of Life Care Awards.

The Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) End of Life team were runners up in the ICS Award category.  This recognises delivery of significant improvements and inspirational care for people nearing the end of life across the wider NHS integrated care population.

The team were one of nine who were shortlisted in the integrated care systems award category. 

Karen Chumbley, Associate Professional Director for Frailty and End of Life Care, NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System, said: “We are delighted to have been recognised by the judges for the work our team has done across the health and social care system to make tangible improvements in care for people nearing the end of life. 

“Our approach to palliative care was selected nationally as a case study for integrated care practice by Marie Curie, the King’s Fund and Sue Ryder of how to improve outcomes for better value. This programme demonstrated £1.2M of avoided emergency admissions each year for two years and improved outcomes for patients  This could only have been achieved by everyone working together to ensure real collaboration across health and social care for people nearing the end of their life.”

The aim of the awards is to pay tribute to individuals and organisations who provide high-quality, person centred, end of life and palliative care – enabling people to have a good life and a good death; recognising accomplishments at all levels from within the social care workforce and hospices.  These include services for older people, people with learning disabilities and/or autism, volunteers and suppliers of innovative products and services.

Members of the team attended the awards ceremony in London which was hosted by TV presenter Kate Garraway who thanked them for their work as commissioners of palliative care and end of life services.