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24 Apr 08Leading the Way in Health and Social Care
The Partnership for Older People Project (POPP) in Poole has won the Regional Award for Partnership Working at a high profile awards ceremony hosted by the South West Strategic Health Authority on Thursday 17th April in Yeovil, Somerset.
POPP - a joint initiative between Bournemouth and Poole Teaching Primary Care Trust 
and Borough of Poole - won the award for its innovative approach to providing health and care services. The partnership has transformed the care of older people in Poole and enabled real improvements in their health and well-being.
The project, launched in 2006 in response to a high level of emergency admissions of older people into hospital provides patients with seamless health and care support in their own homes to help them keep well and prevent unnecessary visits to hospital.
For the first time ever this means a single team working together across organisations to best meet the needs of local older people that includes health care assistants, social workers, community matrons and local GPs. The project is shaped according to needs that older people themselves have identified through working with the team.
Cllr Elaine Atkinson, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Housing and Well-being, Borough of Poole, said: "I am delighted that the commitment of the team has been recognised with this award because it truly demonstrates how the project is making a real difference to the lives of older people in Poole".
Debbie Fleming, Chief Executive of Bournemouth and Poole Teaching Primary Care Trust said: "I am so proud of the team of health and social care staff who have won this important award and who have made a real difference to the lives of many older people living in Poole. We know that older people want to stay in their own homes for as long as possible and this excellent, innovative team has helped make this a reality."
Sir Michael Pitt, Chairman of the South West Strategic Health Authority said: "This awards ceremony saw innovation, dedication and excellence in every aspect of Health and Social Care. It has truly been a privilege to see some of the exciting work which has transformed care for patients and service users in the South West.
"The work of the winners is a credit to the region and the stories that I witnessed have made me even more proud of the NHS and Social Care in the South West. They are an inspiration to us all."
The South West Awards ceremony is one of ten Regional Award ceremonies taking place across England and the project team have now been entered in to the prestigious National Health and Social Care Awards being held on 1July 2008 at Wembley Stadium.
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For more information and interviews with the POPP team please contact: Nicola Plumb, Head of Communications, Bournemouth and Poole Teaching Primary Care Trust : 01202 541534.
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