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Posted on 23 Nov 2020

Our Children’s Community Respiratory Physiotherapy (including Rapid Response) Team has been announced as the Midlands Regional Champion for The Excellence in Health Care Award at this year’s prestigious NHS Parliamentary Awards.

The NHS Parliamentary Awards are nominated by MPs and the coronavirus pandemic, the greatest public health challenge in NHS history, has prompted a record number of nominations as MPs across the country try to shine a light on the dedication of health and care staff and volunteers who have contributed to the unprecedented response.

The judges, who are drawn from across the NHS, have today selected the regional winners for each of the 10 categories from more than 147 nominations.

The Children’s Community Respiratory Physiotherapy (including Rapid Response) works with children with complex neuro-disabilities and severe respiratory difficulties, providing specialist, rapid assessment and treatment in the community. The children they work with have life limiting conditions and are at risk of life-threatening chest infections.

The team has been recognised for their work to improve quality of life, reduce hospital admissions and emergency department attendances and reduce the lengths of stays in hospital.

Moira Flanigan, Clinical Lead Physiotherapist Extended Scope Practitioner, says: “I am delighted that the team have been recognised for the important work we do.

“The children on our caseload have life limiting conditions and are at risk of life-threatening chest infections. The team work together using their exceptional assessment, treatment and management skills of the acutely unwell child to prevent hospital admissions, allowing families to remain together within their own home.

“Although this service has been running for 10 years, its value has been particularly highlighted during the pandemic, being one of the few business-critical services within Childrens services. The team have been donning full PPE whilst putting themselves on the frontline dealing with Covid positive and potential Covid patients, showing a huge amount of resilience to continue to provide an outstanding quality of care.”

Dr John Brewin, Chief Executive, Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust, says: “It’s fantastic to see the Children’s Community Respiratory Physiotherapy and Rapid Response Team recognised in this way and is a testament to their hard work to improve the quality of life for children and young people with complex neuro-disabilities and severe respiratory difficulties. 

“The team have shown dedication and resilience as they have cared for young people at home throughout the pandemic and have been instrumental in helping reduce hospital admissions and length of stays in hospital. Well done and thank you.”

The team was nominated by: Lee Anderson MP, Ben Bradley MP, Alex Norris MP and Nadia Whittome MP.

Nadia Whittome, Member of Parliament for Nottingham East, says: “Now more than ever the work of the Children’s Respiratory Physiotherapy Team is vital for not only the health but also the wellbeing of our young people.”

Dr Nigel Sturrock, Regional Medical Director at NHS England and NHS Improvement in the Midlands, said: “I was impressed by the high standard of all entries from the Midlands this year and choosing between the dozens of teams and individuals who all go above and beyond, to go forward and represent our region, has been incredibly difficult. I wish our champions the best of luck in the national heats and will be rooting for them on the day.”

The Nottinghamshire Children’s Community Respiratory Physiotherapy Team will now go head to head with other regional winners to be judged by a national panel made up of senior leaders representing staff and patients for the chance to win the prestigious national award, which will be presented at a special ceremony in the House of Commons on the 7 July 2021.

The full list of regional winners can be found here: https://www.nhsparliamentaryawards.co.uk/shortlist