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Dorset County Hospital scoops two prizes at NHS research awards

Research professionals and patients from Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (DCH) have been presented with two awards at a ceremony hosted by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) Wessex.

The awards ceremony, which took place at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton on 21 March 2019, saw one of the trust’s senior research nurses, Emily Beaves, presented with the Rising Star award in recognition of her leadership, drive and successful contributions to research across a number of diverse medical specialties.

The trust also secured the award for Excellence in Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement, which went to DCH’s Patient Research Ambassador group, for going the extra mile in their first year, volunteering their time to promote the benefits of research and encourage others to get involved.

The awards represent the achievement of research teams across the trust, who have recruited around 1,300 research participants into studies in the last year, offering local patients access to better care, services and treatments.

On receiving the award, Emily Beaves said: “It was a complete surprise to have been nominated for this award, and so to win it was an absolute honour. I could not have achieved what I have without the support of my dedicated colleagues, so thank you team!”

Marilyn Webb, one of the volunteer Patient Research Ambassadors said: “I am so proud to think that I played a small part in the research team’s outstanding achievement.”

Patient Research Ambassador James McMahon, commented: “I am delighted to have been part of the Patient Ambassador Team supporting research at DCH; being particularly pleased to have co-hosted with Zoe Sheppard, head of research, the first Digital Discovery Workshop.”

Patient Research Ambassador, Richard Lawson, added: "It was a lovely surprise to win the award for Patient and Public Involvement, particularly as the Patient Research Ambassador team at DCH has only been in existence for one year. I think it is down to team work and the dedication of the research and innovation staff and volunteers who have put DCH on the medical research map.”

Dr Zoe Sheppard, DCH head of research said: “Emily has a large and wide ranging portfolio of studies - she has accomplished a great deal in her first year, particularly in re-establishing the diabetes portfolio, so we are all immensely proud of her amazing achievement.  I have been overwhelmed by the skills, experience and ideas that the Patient Research Ambassadors have brought to the role and in particular the time and enthusiasm they have dedicated – they are an absolute inspiration so I am extremely pleased that this has been recognised.”

Professor Robert Peveler, Clinical Director of NIHR CRN Wessex added: “The CRN Wessex awards ceremony was a hugely successful evening celebrating a wealth of high quality research across the region, and was a credit to all the staff and patients who take part in this activity, which improves patient care and outcomes, and brings additional income to the NHS in the region. We send our congratulations to Dorset County on receipt of these special awards.”

Now in their third year, the NIHR CRN Wessex Awards are designed to offer much-deserved recognition to the Wessex research community who continue to improve care through research.

In the last year, NIHR CRN Wessex supported local organisations, including NHS trusts and GP practices, to deliver over 800 research studies across the Wessex region, involving more than 47,000 patients, staff and healthy volunteers.