This award is open to a department or individual carer/nurse/doctor who specialises in the care and treatment of Mental Health within Worcestershire. 

The award is sponsored by NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust.

The finalists are:

 

Steven Walker

Kidderminster Shuttle: Steven WalkerSteven Walker

A FINALIST in the Mental Health category is Steven Walker who works for West Midlands Ambulance Service. 
“It came as a massive surprise, I wasn’t expecting it at all,” the 52-year-old said. The ambulance technician has lived an interesting life having previously been in the army, and worked as councillor. “I worked at Worcestershire Royal and from there went to the ambulance service,” he said. “The pandemic has been tough for everyone this past year, the amount of changes we saw is phenomenal. Everyone works as an amazing team together.”
The Chaddesley Corbett resident helps patients in crisis when called out to jobs. “In 2018 I had a crisis myself, diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression, I use what I learned to help people. With my time in the army, I am able to help veterans with their mental health. 
“It is about spending time with them, getting them the right help they need. We give everybody the best help we can.”

 

Family Support Team - Primrose Hospice

Kidderminster Shuttle: The Family Support Team at Primrose HospiceThe Family Support Team at Primrose Hospice

In the running for the Mental Health award is the Family Support team from Primrose Hospice, which saw an increase in referrals over the last 12 months.
The team, led by Head of Family Support Heather Coughlin, has helped adults and children coping with complex bereavements affected by restrictions to attendance at hospitals, care homes and funerals as well as not being with loved ones when they died. Staff and volunteers have worked with people left with lasting feelings of guilt and separation. They have also supported frontline NHS staff and nurses trying to grieve their own family members.
Complementary therapy, counselling and group work operated throughout the pandemic via telephone and online thanks to staff and a dedicated band of volunteers.
As soon they were able, the Family Support team brought people back on site safely for group work and individual counselling and complementary therapy sessions. David Burrell, the hospice’s CEO said: “This nomination is so well deserved for a team which has gone above and beyond to help those experiencing complex bereavements throughout the pandemic. It has been a difficult time for everyone but, in the words of one of their clients, their hard work has been a ‘lifeline’ to our community.”
“I am incredibly proud of all the staff and volunteers at Primrose Hospice who have worked so diligently during difficult times.”

 

Worcester Street Triage

Kidderminster Shuttle: Worcester Street TriageWorcester Street Triage

THE team behind Worcester Street Triage was very surprised to have been selected as a finalist in the Mental Health category, having only being up and running for a year.
The team works to respond to mental health crisis 999 calls helping anyone who is at immediate risk.
“We go out in an ambulance car on blue lights, do our assessment, and work with the patient to provide them the best care,” Bella Patterson from the team said. “It has been tireless and non-stop getting this off the ground, and it has already had a really positive outcome.
“A&E admissions for mental health have reduced, the numbers detained have reduced, all freeing up police time, ambulance time, taking the pressure off them. A lot of them say it is a relief when we turn up, people specialised in mental health. It fills them with confidence in their decision making too. Being named as a finalist is recognition for all the hard work we have put into pulling it off.”