Terminally ill admissions initiative wins top award

A project aimed at improving admission times for terminally ill patients has won the top award in a regional awards competition.

The Down Lisburn Trusts' admission improvement initiative was one of ten groups from across Northern Ireland to receive awards as part of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's Cash Grant Scheme.

Stephen Mathews, Chief Executive of the Cedar Foundation, who chaired the judging panel, said: "It is encouraging to note that in spite of already demanding workloads, the staff involved in these projects can still find time to pilot new initiatives and seek to improve the quality and range of services they offer."

Second place went to a child friendly dental information pack produced by Armagh & Dungannon Trust. Another Down Lisburn Trust project - 'Asperger's Syndrome: from Diagnosis to Solutions' won third place. The project produced a post diagnostic guide for parents with children who experience the socially impairing condition.

Other winning projects included: a home accident prevention initiative, based in Newtownabbey; a health translation initiative for the Portuguese community in Craigavon; and an independent living project aimed at men over 60 in the Cookstown area.

The Cash Grant Scheme, which began in 1994, is aimed at improving health and social care in Northern Ireland. Grants are awarded to groups working in all sectors to carry out innovative, practical projects, which will result in better care.

(MB/SP)