Awards recognise support given to health and care research in the south east

People working across the health and care sector in Kent, Surrey and Sussex have been recognised for their involvement in research.

More than 80 individuals and teams were nominated for a Research Support Awards across the region, from NHS trusts, dental practices, homecare providers and primary care. Colleagues have been nominated for embracing research, taking time to learn about studies taking place within their organisations, making patients and service users aware about studies and supporting research teams by making the process comfortable for study participants.

The Research Support Awards, run by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Clinical Research Network Kent, Surrey and Sussex, recognise people and teams who provide essential support to research activities within the NHS and wider health and care sectors, despite not working directly in research roles.

The judging panel selected winners and highly commended entries in five separate categories:

Acute Trust/Ambulance Trust:
Winners: PARAMEDIC3 trial-trained Paramedics - South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Commended: Peggy Wood Breast Care Centre - Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Mental Health Trust:
Winner: Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services (Health in Mind & Brighton and Hove Wellbeing Service) - Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Commended: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Clinical Academic Groups (CAG) - Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Community Trust:
Winner: The Children's Community Nursing Team - East Kent - Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Commended - Rheumatology Department, Bognor War Memorial Hospital - Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Primary Care:
Winner: The Brow Health Centre, Burgess Hill

Wider health and care settings:
Winner: Amit Mehta and Jess Barber, Grand Avenue Dental Practice

Highly Commended: Hospice in the Weald In-patient Ward Team

Dr Jo Zamani, Chief Operating Officer of the National Institute for Health and Care Research Clinical Research Network Kent, Surrey and Sussex, said: “Health and care research helps improve health and social care provided by the NHS and colleagues in the wider health and care sector.

“Without the help of colleagues who do not have a formal role in research activity we would not be able to give the population of Kent, Surrey and Sussex the opportunity to take part in research which leads to improvements in patient and service user care and finding new and better treatments for future generations.

I would like to thank everyone who was nominated for an award for helping their colleagues deliver vital research across our region.”