Teams from the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (WHT), whg and The George Coller Memorial Fund have been recognised at this year’s HSJ Awards.
The HSJ Awards is the largest annual benchmarking and recognition programme for healthcare. Through a rigorous, fair and transparent judging process the awards produce a roll call of the best organisations, teams and people in the NHS and the wider health sector.
Working in partnership, teams from the NHS Black Country ICB, WHT, whg and The George Coller Memorial Fund have been shortlisted in the Early Intervention and Prevention with Children and Young People category, for their work to help improve outcomes for children with asthma through the ACEing Asthma programme.
ACEing Asthma is a partnership initiative between health and whg, to identity children and young people with asthma within the housing group’s 22,000 properties, optimise asthma control and help mitigate housing-related and wider socio-economic risks.
The intervention is delivered by whg’s team of Community Champions and Social Prescribers many of whom are social housing customers who are best placed to connect with people in their local area. They are trained and supported by NHS specialists and form a human bridge between families and local services.
Connie Jennings, Director of Stronger Communities at whg, said: “We are thrilled that our ACEing Asthma initiative has been shortlisted for a HSJ award. The programme demonstrates how housing associations can play a vital role in addressing health inequalities and supporting broader community health goals.
“By integrating health initiatives into our housing services, we are directly contributing to the stability and longevity of tenancies. A healthier resident is more resilient and better equipped to manage the challenges of sustaining their home. Being shortlisted for this award validates our approach and will hopefully inspire other housing providers to explore similar partnerships with health services. It's a testament to what can be achieved when different sectors come together with a shared goal of improving lives.”
Viv Marsh, specialist asthma nurse and Black Country clinical lead for children and young people’s asthma transformation, said: “We are delighted that our work helping children and young people with asthma has been recognised at this year’s HSJ awards.
“In Walsall, rates of admission to hospital for children with asthma are amongst the highest in England. That’s why our ACEing Asthma initiative is an important piece of work, and really highlights the benefits of health and housing working in partnership to improve health outcomes for children with asthma.
“The George Coller Memorial Fund have been a charitable partner in children’s asthma activity in the Black Country for many years and it is always a pleasure to work with them. Children love meeting their mascot “George-o-saurus” who puts in an appearance at our community education events.
“It’s really rewarding to see the difference this programme is making in Walsall, and to be shortlisted in such a prestigious award is testament to the hard work and dedicated of the teams working on this project.”
Kim Douglas founded the George Coller Memorial Fund in memory of her son, who died in his sleep in 1996 after suffering from untreated and undiagnosed asthma; he was just three years old. She said: “Considering the gravity of the situation that so many families find themselves in, we at the George Coller Memorial Fund feel compelled that if we can possibly do anything to help, then we must try. It’s vital that we improve the care that is given to children and young people who are living with asthma; every 10 seconds someone has a potentially life-threatening asthma attack.
“We have had the pleasure and the privilege to work with Viv Marsh over the years she is an inspiration and is passionate about childhood asthma. The ACEing Asthma programme is providing vital support to children, young people and their families in Walsall, so it’s fantastic that it’s being recognised at a national level and we’re so very proud to be a part of it.”
Victoria Harrison, Paediatric Matron at WHT, said: “It is so important to look at the wider determinants of health and this initiative means early intervention with partners working in collaboration is much more likely to bring better outcomes for our young patients in Walsall.
“All of us involved in ACEing Asthma are proud of the work we’re doing and we’re keeping our fingers crossed this will bring national recognition and provide a model for others to follow.”
The winners of the HSJ Awards 2024 will be announced during an awards ceremony in London on Thursday 21 November.
