Kindness and compassion recognised in awards for community heroes

The theme of the recent Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System annual EXPO2024 was the “Power of Kindness”. The event which was attended by around 1400 people shone a spotlight on the kindness and compassion of community heroes across Suffolk and north east Essex with Sir Terry Waite KCMG CBE as its keynote speaker.

The event showcased the very best examples of local partners working together – known as integrated care – from the NHS, social, voluntary, faith and community organisations. The eight award categories brought together individuals and teams, recognising the work they do, and how implementing integrated care is making a big and positive difference to people’s lives.

Susannah Howard, Integrated Care Partnership Director for the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System said, “We received a huge number of nominations for our ICS ‘Can Do’ Health and Care Awards this year many of which were nominations by a colleague from another organisation or sector.

“Our winners, runners up, highly commended and commended finalists were chosen by judging panels which included a majority of people and families with lived experience of the local health and care system. As such our ICS awards really do highlight the people who are making a genuine difference in the lives of people in Suffolk and north east Essex”.

The Can Do Health & Care 2024 Award Winners

Inspirational Leader Award – Karen Chumbley, St Helena Hospice – Karen is the hospice’s chief clinical officer and the award recognises her exceptional leadership and her unwavering commitment to improving end of life care. She has championed new ways of working that embed dignity and compassion in end of life care and she is acknowledged as being responsible for make a substantial difference not only to those receiving end of life care but also to their families and carers.

Community Collaboration Award  – Rachel Walton and Joyce McIntyre, African Families in the UK (AFiUK) –  The AFiUK maternity project is led by Rachel and Joyce. It offers cultural, religious and spiritual assistance to its participants through community ambassadors who build supportive relationships with those most at risk of poor outcomes.

Equity Champion Award – The Community Diagnostic Training Academy – Established in 2022 to bring stable employment and career development opportunities to those in the deprived areas of Clacton, in response to the need for a new workforce for the town’s new community diagnostic centre. 222 people initially enrolled and 175 subsequently found meaningful employment, more than half with the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

Healthier Lives Award  – This Suffolk and North East Essex wide service has a key role is supporting people with urgent non-life threatening issues so that they receive the most appropriate care but without the need of an unnecessary hospital admission. Working with patients a collaboration of clinicians support informed decision making, which, in the first four months of 2024, has avoided over 2500 ambulance dispatches.

Unsung Hero Award   –   Kim Fletcher, Community 360 – Kim is a volunteer driver for Community 360 and this award recognises how he went beyond expectations in a complex case involving discharge planning arrangements for someone who had been in hospital with tuberculosis.

Young People’s Champion Award – East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, COVID Vaccinations for Paediatrics Additional Needs Team  –  During the COVID pandemic the team launched specialised vaccination clinics tailored for children with additional needs, offering longer appointment times that offer a stress-free environment, and helping tackle a health inequality for a vulnerable group.

Innovation in Health Award  – Ruth French and Helen Hill, Stowhealth – Recognising their innovation and creation of the fantastic Decaf Project which investigated whether swapping caffeinated drinks for decaffeinated drinks could reduce the number of falls in care homes. Caffeine has a diuretic effect, especially among those with mobility and incontinence issues. The project’s outcome saw a 35% reduction in falls as well as increased confidence and dignity among care home residents.

Compassionate Care Award – Compassionate Companions Service, Peninsula Practice – This local scheme trains and supervises local volunteers to provide practical, emotional and spiritual support to people at the end of their life and their loved ones. The companions work alongside health care professionals, receiving training together and sharing their professional and personal experiences and bringing their humanness together.

In addition to the eight winners each category had a runner up, highly commended and commended placings.  You can read the details of everyone who received an award and a full biography.