HELEN LOCKWOOD: Vital work recognised at MCA Awards

These outreach services include "Hospice at Night", a project for night sitting, a liaison nurse, development of an advice line for patients and families, and the provision of additional beds in the inpatient unit.

I was honoured to attend the MCA Awards in London, at no expense to the hospice, on Tuesday, October 15, where our fantastic project, which was nominated in the Social Value category, was highly commended.

We proudly received an impressive award for the crucial work, which was a collaboration with NECS Consultancy, an NHS care support organisation that supported the hospice in establishing its outreach services.

The MCA Awards highlight the outstanding work conducted by business consultants in collaboration with varying organisations (in the public and private sectors), in the interest of the economy and society.

We were thrilled to receive such high commendation among the likes of KPMG with NHS England, Moorhouse with Ofgem, and Amey with South Western Railway – all nominated organisations having produced fantastic initiatives that are having wide ranging impact upon society.

Bury Hospice chief executive Helen Lockwood (Image: Bury Hospice) There were more than 950 attendees at the awards ceremony, including consultants, health care representatives, and government officials.

We are proud that our vital work has been recognised on a national scale.

Our project work with NECS Consultancy was a huge success as it led to the hospice delivering the pilot schemes much sooner than originally planned.

The night sitting work was implemented with the goal of providing early support and intervention for patients, and minimising avoidable hospital admissions.

NECS consultant Laura Hirst said: “It was a privilege to see the passion and commitment demonstrated by the hospice team in providing high quality and compassionate care, with service-users at the centre of care planning, interventions and treatment.

“This care not only positively impacted both patients and families at a very difficult and vulnerable time in their lives, but helped to reduce pressure on other health and social care services in the area.”

The hospice has since gone on to secure funding to continue with the organisation at night and the liaison nurse.

These two outreach services alone are making a huge difference to the patients and families that use them, adding the most value to the people of Bury.

For more information about the hospice visit buryhospice.org.uk.