A team set up to support veterans receiving care in East Lancashire hospitals has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
The Armed Forces and Veterans’ team at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) have been shortlisted in the Military and Civilian Health Partnership category for this year’s HSJ Awards.
Since being set up last year, the team have supported over 1,600 patients.
The HSJ awards, one of the most prestigious in the healthcare calendar, celebrate the best in innovation and healthcare across the country. The Armed Forces and Veterans’ team will now battle it out for the top prize at a glittering awards ceremony in November.
Shafiq Sadiq, Armed Forces Veteran Advocate Support Officer at the Trust, said: “As a small team working night and day to support members of the armed forces community who find themselves in our hospitals, we’re really honoured to be shortlisted for such a prestigious award.
“Our work is really varied and over the past year we’ve helped find accommodation for homeless veterans, found support for veterans in financial difficulty and worked with a vast network of charities and organisations to help place veterans in crisis, making sure that they have the individualised patient-centred care they need to recover and thrive.
“Being shortlisted for these awards is a fantastic opportunity, giving us a chance to share our work and successes with colleagues right across the country.”
A record-breaking 1,456 entries have been received for this year’s HSJ awards, with 223 projects and individuals reaching the final shortlist, making it the biggest awards programme in the awards’ 43-year history.
ELHT’s veteran’s team have previously gained the Trust Veteran Aware status and Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award. As well as being finalists in last year’s HSJ Awards, they were also recently shortlisted for the Services Award and presented at the 2022 Veteran Healthcare Alliance National Symposium on best practise.