Researchers honoured for tireless work at Northern Care Alliance NHS Group’s Staff Awards

NCA Research Awards

Researchers have been honoured for their tireless work at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group’s inaugural Staff Awards evening.

In a brilliant night for the Group’s thriving research team, two of of the group’s Principal Clinical Research Leads were also recognised, with Dr Andy Ustianowski and Dr Jason Raw being chosen as Doctor of the Year at North Manchester and Bury/Rochdale respectively.

Andy, who is also clinical lead for Health innovation Manchester’s Hepatitis C project, specialises in infectious diseases, especially hepatitis and HIV, while Jason is a Consultant Geriatrician with a special interest in Parkinson’s disease.

Research Nurse Mfon Sam, who works at North Manchester General Hospital,  also received a special Staff Award for the work she has done to involve the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community in medical research, which could benefit the whole community.

The Northern Care Alliance is one of the biggest NHS organisations in the country and brings together two Trusts, Salford Royal and Pennine Acute, which together employ over 17,000 doctors, nurses, midwives, porters, admin, clerical and other staff.

Speaking about Mfon’s success as Group Research Worker/Team of the Year, Sir David Dalton, Group Chief Executive of the Northern Care Alliance, said: “Mfon has begun a process of community engagement in research with various BAME communities, which could have a real impact on how we increase participation and involvement in research for our local community. She has investigated how BAME groups engage with research and researchers and why it is that these groups are underrepresented when it comes to research participation.

“By talking to community groups and attending local mosques and other organisations, she has begun to break down these ideas and is finding that people are becoming more enthused about research participation.”

Mfon said: “I am very proud to win this award for the work I have done to engage the BAME community in medical research. It means a lot to me to be recognised for this and inspires me to work even harder for the communities I’ve been working alongside.”

Around 1,200 staff and guests attended this year’s Staff Awards event from each of the Group’s four Care Organisations – Salford, Oldham, Bury & Rochdale and North Manchester. The event was fully funded by generous sponsors including, Brookson Direct, Carefoot Plc, Construction Impact Framework (CIF), Consort Healthcare (Salford) Plc, ENGIE, Genesis Automation, Hill Dickinson, NHS Professionals, Salary Finance and Vinci Construction UK.

The other award categories included, Chairman’s Unsung Hero Award, Chief Executive’s Achievement Award, Patients’ Choice Award, Award for Clinical Excellence, Quality Improvement and Innovation Award, Allied Health Professional/Technical/Scientific/Social Worker of the Year Award, Doctor of the Year Award, Nurse or Midwife of the Year Award, Support Worker of the Year Award, Administration/Secretarial Worker of the Year Award, Leading by Example Award, Team of the Year Award, Volunteer of the Year Award.

A full list of the winners including images is available on the website: http://www.pat.nhs.uk/about-us/staff-awards.htm

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