Dame Caroline Dinenage, Member of Parliament for Gosport, has celebrated local Pets As Therapy team who received the Volunteer Award at the NHS Awards.
The Portsmouth Hospitals team including its furry members, were all in Westminster for the award ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth 2 Centre, when the winners were announced.
The NHS Parliamentary Awards are a fantastic opportunity for MPs to recognise local health & care organisations or individuals within the health care system by nominating them for a variety of categories. This year’s award ceremony fell on the 75th anniversary of the NHS and over 750 nominations.
Caroline nominated a total of 5 local organisations or individuals for different categories, with 3 making the final shortlist. The Pets As Therapy group from Portsmouth Hospitals were announced winners of their ‘Volunteer’ category at the Awards ceremony in Westminster.
Pets As Therapy enhance the wellbeing of patients and staff by visiting hospitals with their dogs.
Also shortlisted in the national round were Mahfuja Aktar, for the ‘Nursing and Midwifery Award’, and Jane Cansfield for the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’, both from Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.
Speaking after the awards ceremony, Caroline said:
“I was bursting with pride to join Pets As Therapy on the stage to collect their award. They do such an amazing job in boosting wellbeing and brightening the days of patients and staff alike, and this is a great way to recognise their contribution.
“The dogs absolutely stole the show.
“Congratulations also to Mahfuja and Jane who were successful against stiff competition to be shortlisted for the national final. They should both be hugely proud.”
