Video: Nurse wins 'health hero' award

SPECIALIST nurse Joan Higgs has been named the Yorkshire Post NHS Hero 2010.

Mrs Higgs received her award at the annual NHS Health and Social Care awards in Leeds last night from chairman of NHS Yorkshire and the Humber Kathryn Riddle.

She said she was delighted to win the accolade.

She added: "But this award isn't for me, it's for my patients. They are all fantastic and I think so much of them.

"If they are trying hard, you want to try hard for them."

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The awards celebrate the exceptional and vital work done everyday by people in frontline NHS and social services, and the voluntary, charity and independent sectors.

The Yorkshire Post Hero Award highlights the people working in health and social care in our region who have gone above and beyond to provide outstanding service. Mrs Higgs was chosen following a public search, which saw nominations received from across the region.

The five finalists had their stories highlighted in the Yorkshire Post before hundreds of readers voted on the winner.

Yorkshire Post Editor Peter Charlton said: "We have been delighted to have been involved in the search for this year's Hero.

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"The award provided us with the opportunity to highlight the work and achievements of the five people shortlisted for the title. And the award certainly caught the imagination of our readers who responded magnificently to tell us about their particular heroes. I'd like to add a huge thank-you to readers who took the time to nominate and vote.

"They, like me, have been impressed by the diligence, hard work and commitment of the nominees."

Mrs Higgs, 66, became a specialist sister in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 1997, as a member of a ground-breaking pilot scheme.Such was her success; there is now a six-strong team at Northern General Hospital, part of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, focused on dealing with the crippling disease.

COPD is a condition that narrows the airways. Over time, patients can become more and more breathless, and struggle to do everyday activities and get out and about.

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Starting out in nursing 50 years ago, Mrs Higgs has created a monthly social gathering of COPD patients called Breazers Club. She also started yoga classes and now 25 COPD sufferers regularly take part in tailored chair-based exercises. The weekly sessions have produced some amazing results.

"Of the patients that come to yoga, not one has been admitted to hospital for COPD in the last year," said Mrs Higgs. "And this is a disease which gets frequent hospital admissions."

Outside of work, she maintains her commitment and goes above and beyond the call of duty to help her patients,

"She really is a find," said Barbara Morgan, 78, one of the people who nominated Mrs Higgs. "When my husband died nine years ago, I lost all my confidence. The day I walked into Breazers I became a new person with Joan – and I'm not the only one."

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Kathryn Riddle, chairman NHS Yorkshire and Humber, said: "The Yorkshire Post NHS Health and Social Care Hero Award recognises commitment above and beyond the call of duty. Joan works incredibly hard to help COPD patients live life to the full. I congratulate her on being the people's NHS Hero and thank her for doing so much to help people in our region."

More than 300 invited guests attended the Oscars-style awards ceremony last night to pay tribute to the unsung heroes of the NHS, social care and voluntary sector.

The event at Saviles Hall, Leeds was compered by Duncan Wood from ITV Calendar News.

Winners of the 2010 Health and Social Care Awards

Success in Partnership Working Award: Annette Strickland – Frequent Caller Project, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

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Mental Health and Wellbeing Award: Musical Connections: Music-Making in Care Homes for People with Dementia, City of York Council

Primary Care and Community Based Integration Award: Kirklees Long Term Conditions Partnership,

NHS Kirklees, Kirklees Council and Kirklees Community Healthcare Services

Support for Independence Award: Local Enhanced Service for Care Homes, NHS Sheffield

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Acute Care Award: South Yorkshire Regional Inherited Cardiac Conditions Service, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Excellence in Commissioning Award: Children and Young People's Specialist Equipment Development Team, NHS Rotherham and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

SHORTLIST

FREDA BRUNO: During a career with the NHS spanning more than 40 years, Sister Freda Bruno has become known for her clinical expertise, her compassionate nature and her wealth of knowledge and experience in caring for Parkinson's patients. She is Ward Manager on Elm Ward, at Tickhill Road Hospital, Doncaster.

Patricia Larner:

Patricia Larner, of Yeadon, Leeds, has been a support worker for almost 40 years and retired for only two years before getting back on the staff rota. She works on Ward 4 at The Mount Hospital in Leeds. The 67-year-old , said: "I love caring for people and especially elderly people. I just do what I do and I don't have to think about it."

Christine Merrick:

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Christine Merrick, a specialist heart nurse who covers three-quarters of East Yorkshire by herself, works hard to keep people out of hospital. She regularly visits patients at home to assess their heart conditions and change medication if necessary, and has also set up a support group for sufferers.

Kath Surtees:

According to those who would know, Kath Surtees is extremely committed, caring and knowledgeable. The 56-year-old works as a Portage home visitor and is a key member of Hawthorn Family Support Centre in Leeds. She offers practical and emotional support to families who have a child with special needs aged under three.

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