Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust shortlisted for 4 national awards

LANCASHIRE and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust have been celebrating after being shortlisted in 4 categories at the prestigious National Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards. The HSJ awards, which have been held for over 40 years, celebrate excellence and success in healthcare services and share the best practice of Trusts across the UK to create a better NHS.

The Trust has been shortlisted for 4 awards in the following categories:-

►  SYSTEM LED SUPPORT FOR CARERS AWARD - South Cumbria Children's Learning Disability and Behaviour Support Service, which supports children with learning disability and autism, as well as their families and carers, has been shortlisted in recognition for developing carer networks, reducing isolation, increasing parental confidence and competence.

►  CLINICAL LEADER OF THE YEAR - Sam Tyrer, Prevention and Engagement Lead at the Trust, has been nominated for leading development of the:- 'Change Talks' programme. The 6 week programme is delivered for Schools to educate young people on mental health, covering topics such as depression, anxiety and self harm. Sam is also behind the successful Mental Health Family Hour webinars providing online support to people during lockdown.

►  MENTAL HEALTH INNOVATION OF THE YEAR - The Trust's MyPlace project has been nominated in the Mental Health Innovation of the Year category for an eco therapy partnership between LSCFT and Lancashire Wildlife Trust. The aim of the initiative is to improve mental health in young people and adults by giving them the opportunity to connect with nature, learn new skills and build up resilience.

►  DRIVING EFFICIENCY THROUGH TECHNOLOGY - The Trust's use of technology to improve patient experience within mental health services has been recognised and specifically a newly developed:- 'Advice and Guidance' system. The software uses instant messaging to improve the accuracy of referrals and enables GPs to contact Hospitals to discuss which mental health service is most appropriate for a patient.

Chief Executive, Caroline Donovan, said:- "I am delighted to see the Trust has been shortlisted 4 times across such broad categories in one of the most prestigious healthcare awards in the UK. We have been focused on delivering improvements across all our services and there has been some excellent transformation and innovation developed by colleagues in many teams. We still have a long way to go in ensuring we are delivering the very best, safe and accessible care, but it's great to see us being recognised alongside other forward thinking projects. The teams and individuals shortlisted have demonstrated their commitment to our service users, their families and carers and this culture is something I am so keen to encourage across the Trust. Our values of kindness, teamwork, respect and learning shine through in each and every 1 of the shortlisted entries and I wish everyone the very best of luck in the next stage."

Well done to everyone who has been shortlisted. The next stage includes presentations to judges in the New Year and the winners will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony held on 17 March 2021. To find out more about the HSJ awards, click here.

Over a 100 tonnes of scrap goes up in flames
Photograph with thanks to Tony Higginson.

A huge fire at a scrapyard, in Liverpool, on Regent Road, Kirkdale, engulfed over 100 tonnes of rubbish billowing out smoke that could be seen for miles. The black smoke lead to "awful" smell, according to locals, as firefighters battled the blaze, with 9 fire engines and an aerial appliance. A spokesman for the fire service said:- "There are not currently thought to be any casualties or injuries in relation to this incident."

Fire on a ship in Canada Dock, Liverpool

AFTER the scapyard blaze, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Firefighters where back again, on Regent Road, Kirkdale, Liverpool, attending a fire on a ship in Canada Dock, on 22 November 2020. On arrival, crews found a large fire involving a quantity of scrap metal in part of a ship's cargo hold. 6 fire engines where called to the location. MFRS Firefighters, along with ship's own fire fighting team and Port Police then joined up to tackling the blaze.

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust accredited as 1st Veteran Aware Ambulance Service

FOLLOWING the week that we paid our respects on Remembrance Day, we can reveal The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS) has become the 1st Veteran Aware Ambulance Service. The Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) has given NWAS this accolade as they are now leading the way in improving NHS care for members of the armed forces community. NWAS will deliver care in line with the NHS commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, ensuring that the armed forces community does not face disadvantage. Chief Executive, Daren Mochrie, said:- "This is a real honour for NWAS. Ambulance trusts have only just become eligible to apply, and NWAS' close working partnership with our armed forces has stood us in good stead. The recognition means that we have demonstrated that NWAS supports the armed forces community as an employer, and we also ensure that veterans, reservists and cadet force adult volunteers plus any other members of the armed forces community amongst our workforce are looked after, and that we have good links with other local services and service charities."

The VCHA was inspired by the heroism of Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse VC, a Doctor who gave his life rescuing men on the battlefields of the 1st World War. In 2014, orthopaedic surgeon Professor Tim Briggs CBE wrote The Chavasse Report on improving armed forces and veteran care while raising NHS standards and establishing a support network of Hospitals was 1 of its recommendations. The resulting VCHA works closely with the:- Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and Improvement, the Ministry of Defence, the Office for Veterans Affairs and service charities. NWAS is 1 of four trusts that have achieved the Veteran Aware accreditation in the last couple of weeks and brings the total number of Veteran Aware providers across the UK to 58. Professor Briggs, Chair of GIRFT, NHS National Director for Clinical Improvement and Chair of the VCHA, said:- "I'm very proud to welcome 4 more NHS trusts to the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance. They have all made a clear and important commitment to the servicemen and women of this country and their families, and it's great to be able to recognise their hard work through this accreditation. I am particularly delighted to announce the accreditation of our 1st Veteran Aware Ambulance Service, which is setting an excellent example to other Ambulance Services to follow. Several other Ambulance Services are already well underway to becoming accredited as Veteran Aware."