Teams and individuals at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust are celebrating becoming regional winners in this year’s NHS Parliamentary Awards.

The awards recognise the outstanding contribution of NHS staff, volunteers and other health and care sectors and give members of parliament the chance to showcase the amazing people working in their constituency in the healthcare profession.

The Northern Devon Heart Failure Remote Monitoring project, Belle’s Place Primary Care project and Louise Barraclough, Lead Nurse and Specialist Safeguarding Lead have all won regional categories in the awards, after being nominated by their local MPs.

Dame Shan Morgan, Chair of the Royal Devon said “I am delighted that our colleagues have been recognised in the NHS Parliamentary Awards for their extraordinary work, which is making a difference to patients. I am also extremely grateful to our local MPs for highlighting the amazing work of our healthcare staff, and I look forward to seeing them represent the South West at the national awards ceremony.”

More about our regional winners

A project which successfully piloted remote monitoring at home for selected patients with heart failure has won the Future NHS Award. The project, delivered by the heart failure team in Northern Devon benefitted patients by improving health outcomes, giving people greater control of their health and reducing unnecessary hospital admissions.

Angie Tithecott, Lead ACP in Heart Failure at Royal Devon said “We are so proud of the team who helped make this project a success. To have won the regional award is testament to everyone’s hard work and we look forward to attending the national NHS Parliamentary Award finals in October.”

A project focused on understanding and improving access to primary care for the most vulnerable people living in Ilfracombe, has won the Excellence in Primary Care and Community Award.

The pilot aimed to overcome the barriers to accessing healthcare services and improve health outcomes, and was managed by the Trust in partnership with Combe Coastal GP Practice, Belle’s Place CIC and Health Innovation South West.

Andrea Beacham, Senior Programme Manager for Health Inequalities said “This is an excellent example of how involving marginalised communities and community leaders in the design of a service can help us understand the barriers to access and improve outcomes of those most at risk of health inequalities.”

Louise Barraclough is the lead nurse and specialist safeguarding lead for the Devon & Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) and has built a team of specialist and forensic nurses who are experts in providing care. She was nominated for her expertise, professionalism, and capacity to motivate people.

Louise said “I am passionate about the work I do and it would not be possible without the support of my exceptional teams, collaborative multi-agency partners and my visionary leaders who have always supported me in being creative and innovative.”

Winners will now go on to represent the South West in the national awards ceremony, at the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster on Monday 14 October.