South Yorkshire QUIT team up for a national healthcare award

South Yorkshire Integrated Care System's QUIT Teams have been announced as finalists in the NHS Parliamentary Awards taking place next month.

The QUIT programme – which has been shortlisted in the Health Equalities Award category – tackles health inequalities across hospitals in South Yorkshire including Rotherham.

Its mission is to “re-frame tobacco addiction into a treatable condition.”

This involves embedding screening when patients are admitted and nicotine replacement therapy, followed by behavioural support from QUIT teams as well as further support in the community.

The NHS Parliamentary Awards were created in 2018 for health and care organisations and MPs to celebrate and recognise the outstanding contribution of staff, volunteers and others working in the sector.

During the first stage of the awards, MPs nominated healthcare teams and individuals serving their local area.

This year, ten award categories cover exceptional care and health innovation across healthcare services.

Cathy Winfield, chief nursing officer at NHS South Yorkshire said the QUIT teams’ shortlisting “reflects our colleagues' hard work and dedication to making South Yorkshire a better place for our patients, reducing health inequalities and providing excellent patient care.”

“Our South Yorkshire representatives should be very proud of their achievements,” she added.

The shortlisted teams will now move to the final stage of the awards at a ceremony in Westminster on Monday, October 14, where healthcare leaders, finalists, and new and returning MPs will come together to celebrate.