Three teams win medical awards

Three pioneering projects were winners at the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Awards on Thursday 4 May.

• The Geriatric Oncology Liaison Development (GOLD) project, which encourages closer working between teams from cancer and geriatric medicine to improve care for older patients living with cancer, won the Cancer Care Team category
• Staff from the Health Inclusion Clinic won the Primary Care Team category for their work with refugees and asylum seekers
• SH:24, which is a partnership between Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital, Lambeth and Southwark councils, and the Design Council – won the Innovation Team category.

The GOLD project team includes Dr Eleni Karapanagiotou, Dr Tania Kalsi, Dr Danielle Harari, Dr Janine Mansi and clinical nurse specialist Ana Babic-Illman.

They said: "We were so very proud to be Cancer Care Team of the Year at the BMJ Awards in recognition of the GOLD service funded by Macmillan Cancer Support.  

“The project recognises the special and extra needs of older patients with cancer. The development of a designated outpatient multi-disciplinary geriatric-oncology clinic has been very well received by both patients and other healthcare professionals involved with their care.

“We hope that we will be able to provide more appropriate treatment for older patients living with cancer and improve their outcome and quality of life. Our next aim is to provide a model which can be adapted by other trusts throughout the country."

Staff from the Health Inclusion Clinic provide healthcare to people who have been unable to register with a GP. They also offer advice to refugees and asylum seekers about accessing immigration services and support from charities.

Speaking when the team was shortlisted for the award in February, Dr Emma Preston, acting GP lead for the service, said: “We are very proud and excited to be recognised. Our whole team puts in endless dedication and hard work to provide a unique service to this marginalised and vulnerable group of patients who have otherwise struggled to access healthcare and support.”

SH:24 is an online sexual health service which allows people to test themselves for sexually transmitted infections in the privacy of their own home and get results by text message. It is funded by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity.