The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance team collecting their award. From second to left: Michelle Walker critical care paramedic, Bill Sivewright DSAA CEO, Tracy Bartram DSAA communications manager and Dr Farhad Islam
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance came out winners at the 2015 Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards.
The HSJ Awards is the largest celebration of excellence in UK healthcare, highlighting the most innovative and successful people and projects in the sector. The awards were created in 1981 to recognise on a national platform, the projects and initiatives that deliver healthcare excellence and innovation. Over 600 organisations submitted over 1600 entries this year.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance won the award for ‘Improving Outcomes through Learning and Development’ category.
The charity was recognised for the initiation, development and delivery of a unique Post Graduate Education Programme for their paramedics. It is funded entirely by the charity and run in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire, the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and senior doctors and consultants from local hospitals.
The judging panel were impressed by how the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance project was funded and felt it was a great example of how stakeholder involvement is key to succeed in a true collaboration.
After walking away with the top prize, Bill Sivewright, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Chief Executive Officer said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this award. Training and Education forms a cornerstone of the Charity’s vision for the pursuit of clinical excellence. We feel that the future benefit for our patients is best served by investing directly in those charged with delivering the clinical care.
“The unique element of this programme is the fact that the education and training is delivered on-site at the Charity’s airbase and not in the University classroom. Through this mechanism we have now established a group of highly enthusiastic paramedics and doctors who help deliver the training at the airbase, on the helicopter and within their own trusts.
“It is particularly satisfying that the judges recognised our collaborative approach and the extensive stakeholder involvement. This has helped foster regional clinical relationships that we believe provides significant patient benefit. We are most grateful to South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Hertfordshire for their commitment to the creation of this unique program. We must also thank our supporters, without whom we would never have been able to contemplate such an ambitious project.”
Anyone wishing to support the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance can call 01823 669604 or visit www.dsairambulance.org.uk
