Team at York Hospital wins national award

A team at York Hospital has received the award for ‘Best AS Team’ from the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society. Voted for by patients, the Patients’ Choice Awards recognise those health professionals who have gone above and beyond to help people with axial spondyloarthritis including ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

AS is a painful, progressive form of inflammatory arthritis affecting 1 in 200 adults, with symptoms usually starting by the age of 24. The current average delay to diagnosis for AS in the UK is eight and a half years.

The nomination for the team said: “The whole team from my rheumatologist, to the specialist nurses to the team who have to take my bloods due to being on biologics. Thank you! Everyone I have dealt with to do with my AS care have been fantastic, patient, understanding and most importantly they have been kind. This types of attitudes and behaviours make a big difference when trying to deal with a chronic illness that often has a major impact on your life either physically, psychologically or both. The team continues to impress me despite the increasing pressures on the NHS.”

Dr Dale Webb, NASS Chief Executive said, “NASS is proud to celebrate those clinicians who go that extra mile and make a big impact on people’s health and well-being. The award to the team at York Hospital is a great example of this.”

The award was presented at the Houses of Parliament on 3 December, to coincide with the launch of NASS’ new campaign 'Every Patient, Every Time'. At the event, NASS announced the formation of a new All-Party Parliamentary Group to ensure national oversight of the implementation of a new Quality Standard and Guidelines for Spondyloarthritis published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NASS also launched 'Aspiring to Excellence', which will create a UK-wide network of rheumatology services that are working together to achieve the highest level of care for their AS patients.

'Every Patient, Every Time' will work to ensure that every patient receives timely diagnosis and the care that they need.

07 December 2018