AwardsAug 13, 2024

Physiotherapists in England make their mark as shortlists for 2024 CAPHO Awards announced

Physiotherapist Vicky Pursey has been shortlisted in the Allied Health Professions (AHP) Research Impact category in this year’s CAHPO Awards.

Posting on X (formerly Twitter) on 12 August, Suzanne Rastrick, chief AHP officer for England, said: ‘This award recognises #AHPs or teams who have led research related projects or initiatives that have had a positive impact on AHPs, AHP services, people & communities.’

Vicky teamed up with a dietitian colleague at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Sarah Baker – in a bid to win the category.

Their pitch – one of four shortlisted in the category – focuses on the effect of burnout on AHPs working in acute NHS hospitals. They aim to establish an ‘at risk’ profile that identifies those who are deemed to be most vulnerable to developing symptoms.

The winners of each of the nine categories will be announced by Suzanne Rastrick at a ceremony on 10 October. The 2024 event will be the eighth annual awards ceremony.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

This year is the eighth year in which be the annual CAHPO awards have taken place

'Trailblazer’ Caroline Alexander

Another physiotherapist, Caroline Alexander, caught the judges' eye in the AHP Research Impact category. Described as an 'early trailblazer’ for AHP research, Caroline, lead clinical academic for AHPs at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, has made an ’exceptional impact’ through her work to ‘support and progress’ AHP research at the trust.

A biography on Professor Alexander’s trust’s website notes: ‘She received her physiotherapy professional qualification in 1987 from Guy’s Hospital School of Physiotherapy, her MSc in advanced physiotherapy and PhD in physiology from University College London in 1994 and 2002 respectively.’

It adds: ‘She has held a position as a clinical specialist and researcher within the physiotherapy department of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust since 2003.’

This award recognises #AHPs or teams who have led research related projects or initiatives that have had a positive impact on AHPs, AHP services, people & communities [Suzanne Rastrick]

‘Eat-Drink-Dress-Move’

Meanwhile, in the Creative Provision of Placements category – which is sponsored by the Council of Deans of Health – one of the shortlisted contenders was submitted by an AHP practice education team based at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. The team developed a successful initiative that offers virtual placements to local physiotherapy and occupational therapy (OT) students. Running from 2001 onwards, the initiative has boosted student numbers to more than 90.

A ‘unique’, 'peer-supported’ project that encourages members of the multidisciplinary team at various University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust units to promote patient reconditioning is another contender in the Creative Provision of Placements category. The project is known as ‘Eat-Drink-Dress-Move’.

Reconstruction and research physios at Barts Health NHS Trust in east London are shortlisted in the Greener AHP category of the 2024 awards. They have managed to reduce the carbon emissions associated with limb reconstruction, which they describe as ‘a complex fracture management process’. By introducing more of a focus on rehabilitation, the physios say they have reduced the use of theatre space.

A team comprised of physios, OTs and support workers from South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of three contenders hoping to win the Public Health award. They have developed pathways, resources and training that help to make ‘falls everybody’s business’.

In the AHP Innovation and Improvement in Integrated Case Systems category, consultant physiotherapist Angela Gibbon is one of four contenders. Angela’s project, Echo Rehabilitation, is based in Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust where she specialises in neuro-rehabilitation.

More information available via X: @SuzanneRastick and @WeAHPs

The awards categoriesawards categories

Creative Provision of Placements Award 2024: awarded by the Council of Deans of Health
AHP Public Health Award 2024: awarded by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
AHP Digital Practice Award 2024: awarded by NHS England
AHP Workforce Transformation Award 2024: awarded by NHS England
AHP Innovation and Improvement within Integrated Care Systems Award 2024: awarded by NHS England
AHP Research Impact Award 2024: awarded by the Council for Allied Health Professions Research and the National Institute for Health and Care Research
Greener AHP Award 2024: awarded by Greener NHS
AHP Leadership for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion award 2024: awarded by NHS Race and Health Observatory
CAHPO Award 2024: awarded by the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer for England. This award is for the outstanding contribution and overall ‘AHP of the Year’, decided from the winners of each of the categories above.