“Fantastic” – the conclusion of Matt Whitty the Director of NHS England and NHS Improvement and CEO of the Accelerated Access Collaborative in a video message to nominees at the North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards.
Returning after an absence of two years, the event celebrated a variety of work underway in health and care across the region as well as demonstrating the impact clinical research, applied research and innovation has on patient and social care.
In all 180 nominations were received – a record number – with judges facing a tough job to decide winners in 12 categories announced at Edge Hill University on 23 June.
BBC North West Tonight presenter Roger Johnson swopped the red sofa for the Rose Theatre at Edge Hill to welcome an audience of almost 250 with the event also streamed to supporters and well-wishers.
Awards this year reflected work carried out across the region to combat Covid-19. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were recognised for the introduction of a digital Covid passport while a collaboration led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to recruit volunteers to a vaccine trial was also rewarded.
During what was to be a good night for Lancashire, two GP surgeries in Blackpool were also honoured with awards for their research work.
A project involving Everton Football Club’s community team, the Tate and Edge Hill University received a top award highlighting efforts to tackle inequality in health. Judges praised the ‘Tackling the Blues’ project which aims to improve the mental health of children, young people and their communities.
The awards are hosted by the Innovation Agency, NIHR Clinical Research Network North West Coast (CRN NWC), and Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (ARC NWC).
This year nominations were welcomed in 12 categories including one recognising work carried out during the pandemic. For the first time additional awards supported by the region’s two Integrated Care Systems were also presented recognising the close ties between health and social care colleagues across the North West Coast.
“This was an amazing evening to pay tribute to colleagues who have worked tirelessly during very demanding times to make a difference,” Dr Phil Jennings, Innovation Agency Chief Executive said. “In my mind they are all winners and events like this are an ideal opportunity to say ‘thanks’ to those who quietly got on with work that is making a difference to the lives of many thousands of people in this region and beyond.”
Professor Mark Gabbay, Director of ARC NWC, said: “The role of collaboration has been key to delivering so many of the initiatives we have celebrated tonight. The region’s population will continue to benefit from many of the research projects featured for years to come. Tonight is a reminder of just how lucky we are to have people with amazing skills and talent, who can come together, and deliver such pioneering research and innovation across the North West Coast.”
Professor Enitan Carrol, Clinical Director of the Clinical Research Network: North West Coast, added: “It is wonderful to see the North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards back in 2022. The finalists represent the very best of health and care staff, patients and public, all coming together to show how research and innovation can help improve the health and wellbeing of the communities who live in our region. Congratulations to all who have been shortlisted.”
Winners
Research Student of the Year
James Watson, University of Liverpool
Ruth Young Award for Research Implementation
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Outstanding Contribution to Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)
Cheshire & Merseyside Specialist Perinatal Service (SPMH), Cheshire & Merseyside Local Maternity System (LMS) & Cheshire & Merseyside Maternal Mental Health Service (MMHS)
Research Delivery Team of the Year
Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust Clinical Research
Research Collaboration of the Year
Blackpool & Fylde Coast Clinical Research
Primary Care and / or Community Research Site of the Year
Fylde Coast Clinical Research at Layton Medical Centre
Innovation in Patient Safety
University of Liverpool
Innovation in Workforce Deployment
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Culture for Innovation
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
COVID19 Research and Innovation
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Primary Care, Liverpool, St Helen’s, Wirral and Chester Hospitals and NIHR LCRN
Tackling Health Inequalities
Edge Hill University, Tate Liverpool and Everton in the Community
Sustainability
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust