NHS staff across East Lancashire have been praised for their  “genuine innovation and dedication” after being nominated for three awards. 

This year's Parliamentary Awards have recognised three mental health services in the region who have gone above and beyond to improve services. 

More than 130 nominations were submitted across 10 categories to NHS England’s North West team by 40 MPs.

Awards cover exceptional care and health innovation across healthcare services.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust's Change Talks was nominated for Excellence in Health Care Award, Pennine Specialist Perinatal Community Mental Health Team was nominated for Excellence in Mental Health and Initial Response Service was nominated for The Future NHS award.

Change Talks works with young people to significantly improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

They have already reached out to more than 100,000 people aged between five and 21 and engaged 4,000 parents through webinars.

There has been a notable reduction in self-harm referrals and instances where Change Talks have intervened in suicidal thoughts since it opened.

Sam Tyrer, Head of Change Talks said: “Change Talks aims to create a lasting impact by addressing critical issues around mental health and well-being, and being considered for such a prestigious honour highlights the importance of our mission.

“We are proud to be part of a service that is making a real difference in people's lives, and this nomination further motivates us to continue our work in creating positive change across our communities."

Pennine Specialist Perinatal Community Mental Health Team was acknowledged for seeing over 750 women and working hard to increase awareness of perinatal mental health problems between other professionals and families.

Lauren Morton, Seconded Team Leader for Specialist Perinatal Community Mental Health Team, said: “We are very proud to have been nominated for this national award. We are pleased that all the hard work and determination of the whole team is being recognised on a national stage.

“Thank you very much to our MP who acknowledged the benefit of our service to the women and families we support on a daily basis.”

The Initial Response Service, which supports people in time of crisis, saw A&E attendances fall by 8% across Pennine and Central Lancashire.

Their average response time to telephone calls is under 15 seconds and all referrals are triaged within an hour and contact with a clinician has reduced to a matter of hours.

Phil Horner, Deputy Chief Strategy and Improvement Officer, said: “The Central Lancashire Initial Response Service has used digital technology to enable the team to respond to a 20% increase in the number of people asking for help with their mental health.

“This would not be possible without the hard work and compassionate care delivered by the team, so I am delighted to see their dedication and efforts recognised by Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s nomination of the team for the NHS Parliamentary Awards.”

There are ten award categories this year which cover innovative and exceptional care across a breadth of healthcare services.

Dr Michael Gregory, Interim Regional Director at NHS England – North West said: “I’m very proud to see the genuine innovation that this shortlist represents happening across the North West.

“Despite the significant pressures NHS staff have faced over the last few years, and continue to face, they never stop trying to find new and better ways to improve the care patients in the region are receiving.

 “Work like this is the NHS at its best, with time, care and consideration being put into dynamic, bold, and brave ideas that will change the way we work forever.

 “Each and every individual and team responsible for these brilliant nominations deserve to be celebrated for their efforts to take the health service forward into the future, with person-centred approaches to care that genuinely improve the lives of the people we work to look after every day.

In the first stage of the awards, MPS nominate healthcare teams and individuals in their local area to highlight their commitment and achievement working in and with the NHS.

A panel of national judges will now come together to select the winners of this year’s awards.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on October 14.