Entries open for North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards 2022

AN opportunity to recognise the people, organisations and participants who helped deliver research and innovation in healthcare during the recent Pandemic has been launched. The North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards 2022 will be hosted by the Innovation Agency; Clinical Research Network North West Coast (CRN NWC); and Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (ARC NWC). Held annually since 2015 the awards return after a 2 year break due to Covid19 restrictions. The event is a welcome opportunity to reward and acknowledge those involved in research during the last 2 years who have helped save thousands of lives through developing, delivering, participating in or applying an innovative idea or piece of research. Key areas which the awards cover include:- Covid19 research, patient safety, public involvement and cross sector collaboration.

Innovation Agency Chief Executive Dr Phil Jennings said:- "When it comes to research and innovation the North West Coast is a powerhouse. These awards are an opportunity to pay tribute to those who have worked tirelessly to reduce health inequalities and improve patient care despite the Pandemic. I look forward to receiving nominations and meeting those who have made a real difference to life in the Region and beyond."

The awards have been boosted further with the support of the Region's 2 Integrated Care System organisations covering Cheshire and Merseyside and Lancashire and South Cumbria, who are sponsoring 2 new awards in the areas of sustainability and tackling health inequalities. The 12 awards showcase the best research and innovation from NHS organisations, industry and academic partners, third sector organisations, local authorities and other collaborators in health innovation. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 23 June 2022, to be held in the Region. All teams and individuals shortlisted for an award will be able to attend the event.

The 2022 awards categories are:-

► Innovation in Patient Safety.

► Innovation in Workforce Deployment.

► Culture for Innovation.

► Research Student of the Year.

► The Ruth Young Award for Research Implementation.

► Outstanding Contribution to Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)

► Research Delivery Team of the Year.

► Research Collaboration of the Year.

► Primary Care and Community Research Site of the Year.

► Tackling Health Inequalities Award .

► The 2022 Sustainability Award .

► The Covid19 Research and Innovation Award.

To enter applicants should visit:- NWCAwards.Co.UK, check the criteria of the award they are interested in and ensure their nomination is submitted before the deadline of 18 March 2022.

Professor of General Practice at the University of Liverpool and Director of the ARC NWC, Dr Mark Gabbay, said the awards will also recognise those who continued with non-Covid research throughout the Pandemic. Dr Mark Gabbay also commented:- "We realise this has been a difficult time for individuals and organisations involved in research across the Region, which is why we want recognise both Covid and Non-Covid research. There are a lot of organisations across the North West who the award hosts have worked with during the Pandemic to ensure the Region maintained its capacity and capabilities within research. We hope many of these teams and individuals will consider entering the awards."

Professor Enitan Carrol, Clinical Director of the Clinical Research Network: North West Coast, added:- "Over 50 thousand people took part in research studies last year across many healthcare settings in the North West Coast. The awards present an opportunity to celebrate what our partners have achieved during the last 18 months, to ensure people across the patch have access to vital research. The awards event will be an opportunity to showcase the contribution partners have made to the delivery of healthcare in this Region."
 

Bill Esterson MP comments the Government's threats to MPs is "intimidation!"

THE Sefton Central Labour Bill Esterson MP has reacted angrily to claims of:- "intimidation" by Conservative Government Ministers, after allegations emerged of Conservative whips threatening MPs with withdrawal of funding if they failed to vote how they were told in Parliament. MP Bill Esterson responded to comments made by a Conservative MP who defected to Labour, who said whips had threatened to scrap a new School in his constituency if he didn't vote with the Government.

Mr Esterson said the claims from Bury South MP Christian Wakeford suggested that public funds were being funnelled to constituencies based on whether they had a Conservative MP who toed the line, not on the need of the areas and Schools in question, leaving Schools such as Lydiate Primary, which needs a complete rebuild, at an unfair disadvantage because they have a Labour MP.

Mr Esterson said:- "This is not how public funding should work. Schools should get the funding they require based on need, not based on whether the Government needs to bribe constituents in that area to continue to vote for them. And even more so, once the funding has been awarded, they should not use this against their own MPs to get unpopular measures such as the ₤20 cut to universal credit through Parliament. It is intimidation pure and simple."

Lydiate Primary on Lambshear Lane, Lydiate, was hoping to receive funds from a ₤1bn School buildings fund, but the School was not selected among the 1st 50 Schools announced last year. Almost ˝ of the Schools selected were in safe Conservative seats and 15 were in seats where there was a slim Conservative majority or which are target seats for the party.

Mr Esterson has a 15,000 majority in Sefton Central said:- "What we are seeing is Schools in desperate need of repairs and rebuilds following 12 years of Conservative and Lib Dem Government where funding has been cut to the bone. Lydiate Primary desperately needs funding for a new build and the children deserve it. There are leaks in the roof and the teachers can't even display children's work without it being damaged by water running down the walls. The only real answer is a new building. A new building is an opportunity to look after children who are at the School now and to invest in the future of a good School for generations to come. This should not depend on whether the Conservatives think they can win here. It should happen because it is right.'"

According to the House of Commons Library, between 2009 to 2010 and 2021 to 2022, capital spending on Schools declined by 25% in cash terms and 29% after adjusting for inflation.