The inaugural Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards highlighted exceptional individuals and teams from across the UK working in fields such as deployed healthcare, care of veterans, mental health, education and training, and innovation.
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall presented trophies to the winners, including a special Lifetime Achievement Award to the remaining members of the nursing team, 'The Flying Nightingales', who operated out of RAF Down Ampney during World War Two. Tasked with bringing wounded soldiers back from Europe on Dakotas, altogether they brought back more than 100,000 casualties, many of whom would not have survived but for the bravery and selflessness of the nursing orderlies.
Defence Secretary John Hutton said:
"This evening is an opportunity to pay tribute to the diverse and dedicated military, NHS, voluntary and private sector medical professionals from across the UK who provide first class care to our personnel, who quite rightly deserve the best."
The awards scheme is a joint venture between the MOD, Department of Health, the Welsh Assembly, the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland's Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. The MOD was the host department for the 2008 awards.
The 2008 winners of the Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards
Deployed Healthcare Award
Medical Emergency Response Team (Enhanced) (MERT(E)), Op Herrick, Christmas and New Year 2007/8 - MERT(E) members from the Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
During the Christmas and New Year holiday period, the Medical Emergency Response Team based at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand province was on 24-hour standby to provide advanced resuscitation and pre-hospital critical care to injured soldiers.
Education and Training Award
Combat Casualty Care Training, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham.
The Academic Department of Military Emergency Medicine has developed and implemented a range of innovative combat casualty care training curricula, from first aid through to field hospital care, which benefit patients by improving safety and enhancing outcome following critical injury or illness.
Health Improvement and Promotion Award
Ministry of Defence and National Health Service Partnership, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust - Adult Intensive Care Unit.
The Critical Care Air Support Teams are a unique Defence Medical Services air capability. These teams are responsible for the worldwide repatriation of the most critically ill and injured personnel. The teams have quite literally saved lives, not just for the UK, but also for our coalition partners and civilian entitled personnel throughout the world.
Care of Veterans Award
Accelerated Access for Veterans, Hull Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT).
This initiative, launched by the Board of Hull PCT in October 2007, makes provision for veterans to have accelerated access to NHS services if the referring civilian practitioner suspects that any condition is related to their military service, effectively giving all veterans the same status as war pensioners.
Healthcare Reservist of the Year Award
Colonel Sam Rawlinson, East of Scotland Blood Transfusion Centre, Edinburgh.
Nominated by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Colonel Rawlinson has shown personal commitment to NHS patients requiring the full range of Transfusion Medicine products and services, and life-saving transfusion support to trauma surgeons treating very seriously injured casualties in operational theatres.
Team of the Year
Joint Defence Medical Services Department/Department of Health (DH) Smoking Cessation Project.
Close co-operation between the DH Tobacco Policy Unit and the Project Team was vital to the success of this initiative, developing smoking cessation services for the particular needs of military personnel.
Innovation in Service Development Award
Defence Patient Tracking System - Defence Medical Services Department, Defence Analytical Services and Advice, and Joint Medical Command.
The Defence Patient Tracking System ensures that patient care is delivered in a timely fashion, that care pathways are not interrupted and that there is complete clarity of responsibility for the clinical, administrative and welfare support of patients at all times.
Mental Health Award
Implementation of the new Mental Health Facility in British Forces Germany, British Forces Germany Health Service.
British Forces Germany has achieved significant improvement in access to multi-disciplinary mental health services by locating resources, including Community Psychiatric Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Psychiatric Social Workers, Psychiatrists and Psychologists in communities.