Dr Casey’s Team Scoops Award

Dr John Casey and his transplant team from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service scooped the Care for Long-term Illness Award at the Scottish Health Awards 2013 in recognition of the team’s invaluable contribution to Scottish healthcare. 

Through John and the team’s dedication to research, knowledge and enthusiasm, they are giving life and hope to transplant patients across Scotland. The Scottish National Pancreatic Islet Transplant Programme treats some patients with type one diabetes who have problems recognising when their blood sugar is dangerously low. The process involves extracting islet cells from donor pancreas and injecting them into the patient’s liver.  The majority of patients now only require tiny amounts of regular insulin and some have become insulin independent.The team’s caring and inspiring approach has supported not only the patients but also their families through the transplant journey.

John Casey, “This is a great bonus for the team and is a great accolade for all of the hard work they have put in to establishing a new service in Scotland. It is a very welcome recognition for their commitment and the amount of effort they have put in over the last few years.”

Every year, the Scottish Health Awards recognise and reward the dedicated NHS staff, support workers, volunteers and specialist teams who go the extra mile to provide outstanding patient care. The ceremony was hosted by top comedian, Fred MacAulay, took place on Thursday 7th November, at The Corn Exchange, Edinburgh.

The full list of winners is outlined below:

•       Doctors Award – Jacques Kerr, NHS Borders
•       Nurse Award – Jen Rodgers, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
•       Therapists Award – Gail Hogg, NHS Fife
•       Unsung Hero Award – Lillian Irvine, NHS Borders
•       Support Worker Award – Donna Coulter, NHS Dumfries & Galloway
•       Volunteers Award – Jim Morrison, NHS Grampian
•       Top Team Award – Gillian Mackinnon and Linsey McLaren, NHS GG&C
•       Care for Mental Health Award – Kevin O’Neil, NHS Lanarkshire
•       Care for Long-Term Illness Award – John Casey and Team, NHS Lothian
•       Services to Women and Children Award – Jean Davies, NHS Ayrshire & Arran
•       Healthier Lifestyle Award – Sarah Ellis and Sally Fletcher, NHS Tayside
•       Health In the Workplace Award – Young’s Seafood Limited
•       Integrated Care for Older People Award – Integrated Community Support Team – East Kilbride and Strathaven Pilot, NHS Lanarkshire
•       Innovation Award – Sally Boa, NHS Forth Valley
•       Quality Champion of the Year – NHS Borders Critical Care Outreach Team, NHS Borders
•       Leading and Managing for Quality Award – Angela O’Neill NHS Ayrshire & Arran

The Scottish Health Awards 2013 is managed by the Scottish Government and the Daily Record.