NHS Trust wins prestigious national award for compassionate patient care
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has won a prestigious national award for its Creative Minds initiative which promotes creative approaches to healthcare.
The Trust won a Health Service Journal (HSJ) Award for ‘Compassionate Patient Care’ at a ceremony which took place in London on Wednesday 19 November. The award was presented to the Trust by RT Hon Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary and Jane Cummings NHS England’s chief nursing officer.
The HSJ Awards are the largest celebration of healthcare excellence in the UK, highlighting the most innovative and successful people and projects in the sector.
The Trust’s Creative Minds initiative encourages creative approaches and activities in healthcare; helping to increase self-esteem, provide a sense of purpose, develop social skills, help community integration and improve quality of life. Since the launch of the initiative in 2011, Creative Minds has delivered more than 150 creative projects in partnership with over 50 community organisations – benefiting over 3000 people.
Past and current projects supported by the Trust show the variety of creative activities offered to improve the health and wellbeing of people accessing Trust services. Projects offered by the Trust have included equine therapy, theatre, art, music and photography work, walking groups and horticultural therapy.
Steven Michael, chief executive at the Trust said, “I’m delighted that our Creative Minds initiative has been recognised at a national level. Winning the HSJ Award for compassionate patient care is testament to the fantastic work that’s already taken place and sets the standard for all future projects as we integrate creative opportunities into the services we offer to local people.
“We all have creativity within us; Creative Minds is about releasing that potential to support people’s recovery and help them to live well in their community.”
HSJ judges said that the Creative Minds initiative took user-led services to a different level, hailing “the empowerment of service users that demonstrates personal and economic benefits for individuals, families and whole communities.”
Paula Phillips, clinical nurse specialist and service manager for the Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Wakefield was also shortlisted in the awards and received ‘Highly Commended’ recognition in the ‘Clinical Leader of the Year’ category.
A series of Creative Minds films which show the range of creative activities being provided and the impact the projects have had can be viewed by visiting the Trust’s website at www.creativemindsuk.com