Physiotherapists shine at 2021 Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (CAHPO) awards

Consultant respiratory physiotherapist Stephanie Mansell and a colleague have picked up the AHP digital practice award at this evening’s Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (CAHPO) 2021 awards (14 October).

Ms Mansell, who is based at the Royal Free London NHS Trust, received the award with colleague Iain Loughran, a senior research manager, at a virtual ceremony conducted by Suzanne Rastrick, CAHPO for England.

ONCALLBUDDY

The pair’s work in developing ONCALLBUDDY, an educational application for AHPs working in the north London trust’s urgent and emergency respiratory areas, caught the judges’ eye. The app provides staff with an accessible overview of common conditions, and assessment and treatment interventions.

In a tweet, Beverley Harden, deputy CAHPO and a physio by background, said ‘well done everyone … this is so exciting delighted to have supported your journey’.

This year’s awards (the fourth) were re-activated after a ‘pause’ last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the winners were announced today (14 October) to coincide with national AHP Day.

Compassionate leader

Another physiotherapist to win a category was Sue Ramsey, who picked up the AHP compassionate leadership award. Ms Ramsey is a clinical specialist physiotherapist with East Suffolk and North East Essex NHS Trust.

The award, which was sponsored by NHS Employers, recognised the ‘compassionate leadership’ that Ms Ramsey showed to her colleagues, and the ‘immense dedication’ she showed to patients during the pandemic.  

Ms Ramsey was responsible for creating and delivering respiratory physiotherapy cover on a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week basis in critical care settings.

Lincolnshire values

It means so much to have everyone’s hard work be recognised in a special way. It just shows how great service development can be when the whole system works together! [Lincolnshire Stroke Service]

Meanwhile, AHPs from the Lincolnshire Stroke Service (part of Lincolnshire Community Health Services) won the AHP innovation and delivery of systems awarded, which was awarded by NHS England and NHS Improvement. The AHPs’ aim is to create a service that is ‘fit for our own families’.

The team tweeted: 'Wow!!! We are so honoured and proud to have received this award. It means so much to have everyone’s hard work be recognised in a special way. It just shows how great service development can be when the whole system works together! We will keep going!'

Earlier in the day, Suzanne Rastrick tweeted: 'Happy #AHPsDay to all my fantastic #AHP colleagues in England & elsewhere! Thank you to all of our 14 professions who contribute so much to health & care services across the life course.'

For more information, follow: @SuzanneRastrick