Therese has nominated eight separate NHS and healthcare professionals and organisations for a Parliamentary Award following a large number of recommendations from Suffolk Coastal constituents who have received excellent care. The NHS Parliamentary Awards recognises the outstanding contribution of NHS staff, volunteers and other heath and care sectors, giving members of parliament the chance to showcase their amazing work.
Therese said: “Each year, I ask constituents to recommend our NHS and healthcare heroes who deserve additional recognition for the outstanding job they do looking after people. This year I had an unprecedented response and I’m delighted to nominate across eight categories including the Prime Minister’s point of Light award winner, Catherine Pickles for the Excellence in Mental Health Award; Cathy Alban Jones for a Nursing and Midwifery Award and Dr John Havard’s Saxmundham Surgery for an Excellence in Primary Care and Community Care Award.”
Therese added: “It’s great to see the quality of care that people have experienced locally. I’d like to thank all my nominees for their outstanding work and wish them the best of luck in their respective categories. I hope we can bring some awards home to Suffolk.”
Judging takes place in June with the winners announced in early July.
Therese’s Full List of Nominations:
Health Equalities Award, Doeke Dobma
Doeke founded Clinks Care Farm, which offers placements to disadvantaged people to use the natural environment as a therapeutic space. They started a project called 'Farming on Prescription. The programme enables local GP surgeries from Lowestoft, Beccles, Bungay and Southwold to refer their patients suffering from mild to moderate mental health issues.
Volunteer Award, Halesworth Dementia Carer's Trust
The charity do excellent work fundraising to provide additional respite care to carers of people suffering with dementia.
Nursing and Midwifery Award, Cathy Alban Jones
Cathy is a specialist palliative care nurse with St Elizabeth Hospice. A constituent recommended her due to the outstanding care she provided to their late husband
NHS Future Award, University of Suffolk Dental College
The University has recently opened a new dental clinic which will provide 18,000 hours of NHS-only dental appointments per year. They have also launched a new BSc dental hygiene and dental therapy programme this year.
Excellence in Mental Health Care Award, Restitute CIC, Catherine Pickles
Catherine won the Prime Minister's Point of Light Award for founding Resitute. Founded in 2019 from lived experience of caring for someone who has survived sexual abuse, Restitute has since supported over 380 families.
Excellence in Primary Care and Community Care Award, Saxmundham Surgery
A number of people got in touch to say they always receive high quality care when they visit. Dr Havard has also been vocal on the ambition to build a new one-stop shop health centre.
Lifetime Achievement Award, Nick Hulme
Nick has worked in the NHS for over 20 years and since 2013 has been the Chief Executive of the Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust.
Excellence in Education and Training Award, Dr Paul Driscoll
Dr. Driscoll serves as a trainer for GP registrars, shaping the future of general practice by imparting invaluable knowledge and skills to the next generation of GPs. His dedication extends to nurturing medical students within primary care, facilitating their learning and professional development.
