They provide care to patients in their own homes across Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
And now the amazing efforts of the Primary Care Home teams from East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) have been recognised as Clinical Team of the Year at the organisation’s staff awards event.
It was one of 17 awards presented to celebrate the staff of the social enterprise - which provides NHS community health services across Norfolk and Waveney - as well as its subsidiary companies and partners within the local NHS system, as a prestigious awards ceremony was held.
ECCH has four PCH teams made up of nurses and therapists from a wide range of disciplines, who work alongside social care colleagues to offer personalised care in patients’ own homes and avoid them having a hospital stay.
They support four groups of GP practices covering Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and the northern villages, Gorleston and South Waveney.
Presenting the award at the Ivy House Country Hotel in Oulton Broad, ECCH chief executive, Ian Hutchison, said: "Throughout the pandemic these teams demonstrated extraordinary commitment and resilience, going into people’s homes to ensure patients continued to receive appropriate care.
"Their role continues to evolve and expand to support the growing need for care outside of acute hospitals, to patients with increasingly complex needs."
The Non-Clinical Team of the Year award went to ECCH’s Waveney Administrative Team - who are the first port of call for patients at Beccles Intermediate Care Unit’s reception area.
The award for Delivering Exceptional Care was given to Heart Failure Nurse Specialist Joanne Hayles who has developed a ‘Patient Passport’ and service information packs to help patients better understand and manage their conditions.
The winner of the Patient Choice Award was Paula Baker, a Specialist Nurse with the Cardiac Rehabilitation team.
The Innovation Award was won by Occupational Therapist Abigail Newsome for her contribution to the launch of a new continuous service improvement programme.
Jade Wilson won the Emerging Talent award, with Specialist Physiotherapist and Stroke Team Lead, Anne-Marie Gaul, named Inspirational Leader.
Health Connector Valerie Manning received the Making a Difference Award for helping access appropriate support for a number of vulnerable patients.
The Unsung Hero award was shared by Wheelchair Service Co-ordinator Julie Tobutt and Night Service Staff Nurse Jane Smith.
The Star of the Year Award was won by Estates and Facilities site co-ordinator Liz Cable for her work leading the Domestic and Catering Service at Beccles Intermediate Care Unit, and the award for ECCH Champion was presented to MSK Physiotherapist Suzanne Blowers.
The Chair’s award was presented by ECCH Interim Chairman John Niland to the Systems Support Team who have helped to introduce many new digital initiatives in recent years.
As well as awards for ECCH staff, three Partnership Awards were given to colleagues from partner organisations who have been instrumental in helping ECCH implement collaborative projects and ways of working.
These were awarded to Emma Bray, ICS Head of Urgent, Emergency & Integrated Care (East Locality) from Norfolk and Waveney ICB, Tracie Bitters, Corporate Lead Nurse at the James Paget University Hospital and Andrew Butcher, Head of Service Improvement Partnerships at Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust.
Two awards were given to staff at Cavell Healthcare, the domiciliary care provider which ECCH took over a year ago.
Field Care Supervisor Charmain McGinty won Care Worker of the Year and Care Manager Laura Panter won the Outstanding Contribution Award.
Maintenance Technician Grant Burwood received an Outstanding Contribution award for the difference he makes to his team at East Point Business Services, another subsidiary of ECCH.
A special award was also presented to former ECCH Chair Tony Osmanski who ended his term at ECCH in September.
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