Star awards from Olympic champion

Richard, from East Grinstead, won gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and bronze at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.

He gave out the awards at NHS Crawley and NHS Horsham and Mid Sussex Clinical Commissioning Groups’ AGM on June 11.

Horsham, Mid Sussex and Crawley proactive care teams operational lead, Anne-Marie Whent from Sussex Community NHS Trust, won the ‘Working Together’ category, recognising those who have forged strong and effective partnerships that make a difference.

Anne-Marie said: “It’s for the team, they work so hard. They listen to what each patient wants, making their care personal and meaningful to them, linking them to groups that are beneficial to get the right care in the right place at the right time.”

Richard Leman, who founded the East Grinstead Sports Club Charity, told the gathering of his passion for integrating sports clubs into the local community and schools to improve the health and wellbeing of the wider population.

He said: “I’m continually impressed with the way in which the CCGs are engaging with the communities, having seen the work during the last year. The way the CCGs go about engagement is excellent and an example for many other organisations to follow. I think the patients of Horsham, Mid Sussex and Crawley can be very grateful for the hard work that’s going on behind the scenes.”

CCG Chair Dr Minesh Patel, said there had been ‘significant steps’ to improve patient care, with reduced waiting times and early diagnosis of cancer as priorities.

“Our Proactive care teams have been awarded nationally for their work to help people self-manage their health conditions at home, with the right expertise placed around the patient, reducing the need for hospital admission. It’s great that the teams’ manager was recognised at our awards,” he said.

“However, we know there is much more to do to improve the quality and range of NHS services for our communities.”

Full list of award winners and runners up:

Above and beyond - This award is to recognise those who have made the extra effort over and above their normal duties; with their colleagues, patients or visitors to deliver an ‘outstanding’ service

Joint winner: Diane Pierce, Reception Manager at The Brow GP practice, Burgess Hill

Joint winner: Gordon Robson, member of the NHS Crawley CCG Commissioning Patient Reference Group

Runner up: Corporate Admin Team (both CCGs)

Working together - This award recognises those who have forged strong and effective partnerships that make a difference

Winner: Anne-Marie Whent, Sussex Community Trust Operation Lead – Proactive Care, (based at Haywards Heath Health Centre)

Runner up: Admiral Nurses commissioning team partnership (NHS Crawley CCG, Dementia UK, NHS Horsham and Mid Sussex CCG, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and West Sussex County Council)

Runner up: Peter Dodds, member of the NHS Horsham and Mid Sussex CCG Commissioning Patient Reference Group and Crawley Down Health Centre Patient Participation Group (PPG)

Health and Wellbeing Champion (sponsored by Jem Trophies) - An award to recognise the promotion of living well and healthy

Winner: Children and Young People’s Pathfinder Project Team (West Sussex County Council youth service; YMCA; Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Kooth)

Runner up: Dr Laura Hill, NHS Crawley CCG Clinical Director and Dementia Lead

Putting patients at the heart (sponsored by Treetop Design and Print) - To recognise work that directly improves patients’ lives and their access to high quality, safe care

Winner: Leacroft Medical Practice Patient Participation Group (PPG)

Runner up: Dr Andrew Reader, GP at The Medical Centre, Lindfield

Runner up: Laura Ireland, Nurse Lead and Diabetes Nurse, Moatfield Surgery, East Grinstead

Making a difference (sponsored by Crowne Plaza London-Gatwick Airport) - To recognise a contribution and commitment that has made a difference to the work of the CCG

Winner: Communications and Engagement team (both CCGs)

Runner up: Katherine Regan and Anne Wallingford - Medicines Management Team Net Formulary (both CCGs)

Runner up: Barry Young (Chief Finance Officer) and the Finance Team (both CCGs)

Living our values - This will be a person or team who embodies the CCG’s values in their particular area of work or contribution. The values include honesty and transparency; focused on patients; innovation; equality; accountability; fairness; affordability

Winner: Alison Hempstead, Head of Planning and Governance (both CCGs)

Runner up: Planned Care and Long Term Conditions Team (both CCGs)

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