Nominations open for eighth annual BMJ Awards
BMJ 2015; 351 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h5665 (Published 23 October 2015) Cite this as: BMJ 2015;351:h5665
The search for medical excellence is on again as The BMJ Awards 2016 invite nominations for the eighth year of a competition now firmly established in the annual medical calendar. The process that begins with completing a nomination form could end for the winners in recognition among their peers at a gala night at the Park Plaza Hotel on Westminster Bridge Road, London, on 5 May, when the awards will be presented.
The format is firmly established and a proven success, but each year sees evolutionary changes designed to ensure that it targets the right areas of medicine in the right way. This year’s most significant change is the introduction of expert patients in the judging process—each panel will include at least one patient, in keeping with The BMJ’s Patient Partnership initiative (bmj.com/campaign/patient-partnership), launched last year.
Once again, the headline sponsor for the awards is MDDUS, the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland.
This year’s categories show some changes from last year, introducing the Cancer Care Team of the year, sponsored by Macmillan, and Prevention Team of the year, sponsored by Public Health England.
Phil Johnson, director of the awards, said, “The BMJ Awards are a fantastic reminder of all that is good in UK medicine. Each year we are thrilled by the enthusiasm of the teams and humbled by the hard work they have put in. We are delighted to play our part in uncovering such excellence, showcasing the achievements of the various teams to a wider audience and getting them the recognition they deserve. This year we are excited to have put patients at the heart of the judging process.”
The BMJ’s editor in chief, Fiona Godlee, said, “Every year we are amazed at the quality and breadth of the entries we receive. They reflect the professionalism, commitment, creativity, and hard work that characterise so much of the day to day provision of healthcare in the UK.
“In these tough and turbulent times for the NHS it has never been more important to showcase the best of British medicine. The BMJ is proud to do this. We hope the BMJ Awards will reward excellence, encourage learning, and inspire innovation at all levels in the health service.”
Categories for The BMJ Awards 2016
Primary Care Team (sponsored by MDDUS)
Care in the NHS begins in general practice, and this award is looking for the primary care team that has made an exceptional contribution to the health of the patients it cares for.
Gastroenterology Team (sponsored by Takeda and the charity Crohn's and Colitis UK)
The drug firm Takeda and the charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK are sponsors of an award that recognises improved care in gastroenterology.
Cancer Care Team (sponsored by Macmillan)
Cancer can be a long journey on a hard road, made easier by excellent care, which this award will recognise.
Prevention Team (sponsored by Public Health England)
Prevention of disease or disability is an aspiration universally recognised and vital to the future of the NHS, this year recognised by an award for the best example the UK can provide.
Dermatology Team (sponsored by Leo Pharmaceuticals)
This award is about identifying an innovative project or initiative that has measurably improved dermatology care for patients and their carers or that has effected change on a wider population basis.
Education Team
Judges will be looking for a team that can demonstrate that it has materially improved the content or delivery of medical education.
Innovation Team (sponsored by Imperial Health College Partners)
Innovating is difficult and often disruptive, calling for outstanding leadership, which this award will recognise.
Palliative Care Team
Last year’s BMJ Awards recognised two teams—the winner and a highly commended team—that had extended the range of palliative care beyond their home territory of cancer. In a growing specialism in which the UK has a good record, judges will be looking for originality and excellence.
Clinical Leadership Team (sponsored by the General Medical Council and the Faculty of Medical Leadership Management)
Healthcare is changing in ways that challenge traditional patterns and call for exceptional leadership to provide evidence and to persuade. This award recognises the importance of such leadership.
Cardiology Team
Specialists in cardiovascular care have often featured in award shortlists, but this year the opportunity is widened through an award specifically for cardiology.
UK Research Paper
An ever present and hotly contested category, the award for best research paper showcases the UK’s continuing excellence in medical research.
Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by the BMA)
A reputation is not built in a day but through years of creative work. For this award, nominations are sought for someone who has made a major impact in medicine through pertinacity, application, and sound judgment. You cannot nominate yourself, but there are plenty of others who would be worthy successors to the previous winners of this award. The panel of judges for this award will be chaired by Fiona Godlee, The BMJ’s editor in chief.
Notes
Cite this as: BMJ 2015;351:h5665
Footnotes
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For more details go to thebmjawards.bmj.com.