National success for local NHS Trust
The South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust has been highly commended by a prestigious national communication award.
The Trust’s annual report, ‘Our Year’, was singled out from hundreds of entrants in the Nexus Annual Report and Primary Care Prospectus Awards.
Over 300 NHS organisations, including hospital trusts, ambulance services, primary care trusts, and special health authorities, entered the Nexus awards, which have been a highlight of the NHS calendar for the past 12 years. The Trust was highly commended in their category and was one of only 5 to be short listed. The Trust was also runner-up in the same award last year.
The Nexus Awards are designed to recognise best practise and excellence in the production of annual reports and primary care prospectuses and judges reward informative, creative and cost-effective reports that meet legal requirements, but, above all, communicate effectively with patients, staff and the general public.
‘Our Year’ was produced as a magazine and distributed to all GP surgeries across Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale as well as to partner organisations such as social services, Mind and local voluntary organisations.
The Trust is legally obliged to produce an annual report which includes statutory information such as the Trust’s financial activities, management costs, performance targets and progress on waiting times. It also included a broad range of articles, such as why creativity is good for the mind, how older people with dementia are cared for in hospital and how Trust services are continuing to be modernised.
Speaking about the award, Jude Corrigan from the Trust’s communications team said, ‘Our annual report was particularly well received last year so we decided to keep the same award-winning format this year. We’re hoping that by using an accessible and informal style people will be encouraged to pick up the report and read about our Trust’s developments.
‘One in four people will experience a mental health problem in the course of a year and our report highlights the achievements of our staff and of people with mental health problems and learning disabilities, I am especially grateful to them for telling us their stories.
‘Hopefully our report will go some way to combating the stigma and discrimination that unfortunately still surrounds people with mental health problems and learning disabilities, whilst also showing what can be achieved by the Trust and people who use its services.’
Anybody who would like a copy of ‘Our Year’ can call 01924 327055 or visit the Trust’s website: www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk