Research fellow recognised for work on clot diagnosis

'Up and coming' health care professionals from across the UK were recently identified as the winners of the 2002 Thrombosis 'Leaders of the Future' Awards for their outstanding achievement or insight into the prevention, diagnosis and management of thrombosis.

The Awards, which have been established by the Thrombosis Quorum (TQ) and are supported by 13 Royal Colleges and learned societies, rewarded individuals from across the fields of medicine, pharmacy and nursing.

Dr James Kelly, Research Fellow in Haematology/Elderly Care at St Thomas' Hospital, was awarded first prize in the category of 'Management and Diagnosis of Venous Thromboembolism' with his entry entitled, Magnetic resonance direct thrombus imaging: the future of diagnostic imaging for venous thromboembolism? Dr Kelly receives a grant totalling £4,000, comprising £2,000 for individual professional development activities related to thrombosis, and £2,000 for his department to fund thrombosis-related education and equipment.

Pour le merit - double honour for Alan Sinclair

Professor Alan Sinclair was doubly honoured in Madrid recently when he became the first geriatrician to receive the distinguished status of ‘Miembro de Honor’ of both the Spanish Society of Geriatric Medicine (SEMEG) and the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SEEN). Professor Sinclair, who is Professor of Medicine at Warwick University and a consultant geriatrician/diabetologist, attended a special ceremony in Madrid, Spain, on 21 October 2002, where his scientific contributions to geriatric medicine and his inspiring work in, and dedication to the treatment of diabetes in the aged were recognised.

BUPA recognises excellence in the North West

The BUPA Foundation’s annual awards are made in recognition of excellence in medical research and healthcare in six categories including care of the elderly.

In 2002, the BUPA Foundation Care Award has been awarded to Dr Jim George, the nursing and therapy staff from the specialist medical ward Elm-B in the Cumberland Infirmary within the North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust, for the development of a specialist assessment unit set up to ensure effective diagnosis, treatment and support for elderly confused patients.

Since June 2000, confused elderly patients who are admitted to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle have been treated in Elm-B ward where they are assessed by a multi-disciplinary team of 20 specialists in the fields of acute care, mental health, occupational therapy,and psychiatry. Once they are well enough to leave hospital, patients’ discharge is co-ordinated with therapists and community staff in order to ensure they receive the necessary support. Over 75 percent of patients are successfully treated and return home.

The principles of working with confused elderly patients developed on Elm-B ward have been shared with other professionals and Elm-B provides an advisory service to other hospitals setting up similar units. Guidelines on Elm-B ward for the management of conusion are now used widely in the UK and abroad.