One of our community mental health teams for older people in Surrey Heath has won the prestigious title of Team of the Year: Older Age Adults at the Royal College of Psychiatrists awards 2018.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists award recognised the team’s exceptional work to bring physical and mental health assessment, treatment and support together for people over the age of 65.
Hailing the team as ‘worthy winners’ of the award, judges from the Royal College praised their integrated working with other health and social care professionals, and noted the positive feedback received about the service from patients and carers who ‘continue to be actively involved in service improvement’. The team received the award at a ceremony in London on Wednesday 7 November.
The team won their accolade thanks to their wide range of interventions for patients with dementia and functional mental health problems, fast response times, extended hours and joint working with other services. Their work in the Surrey Heath area has also contributed to the stabilisation in the number of emergency admissions of over 65s to the local acute hospital Frimley Park and a reduction in overall length of stay. Feedback from people supported by this team also report consistent excellent service and improved outcomes.
Fiona Edwards, Chief Executive of Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: “I am thrilled that the integrated approach taken by the Surrey Heath Community Mental Health Team for Older People has been honoured by the Royal College. Working collaboratively with other health and social care organisations and offering a single point of access to different types of support makes it easier and faster for each person to get help when it is needed. I congratulate the team on their well-deserved success.”