Since 2018, NHS staff have been honoured and recognised for their commitment and dedication to the NHS at the NHS Parliamentary Awards.

Simon Fell, the MP for Barrow and Furness, has nominated Lancashire and South Cumbria’s Cancer Alliance team, and the the Lancashire and South Cumbria Covid 19 programme team for this years awards.

The nominations will now be carefully scrutinised, with judging taking place in June, ahead of the awards ceremony which takes place in Parliament on 5 July.

Commenting, Simon said:

“It is an absolute honour to nominate these two incredible teams for recognition at the annual NHS Parliamentary awards.

“The vaccination effort brought us our freedom from the lockdowns, and the cytosponge test is an identifying ten times more people with Barrett’s oesophagus than the usual GP route, according to the new study funded by Cancer Research UK.

“I wish both teams well, and I look forward to seeing them at the awards ceremony in July.”

Chief executive of NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, Kevin Lavery, said:

“I am delighted to see this wonderful recognition of the work done by NHS staff in South Cumbria and would like to congratulate the teams behind both projects for their nominations.

“The NHS Parliamentary Awards are a great way for MPs to help highlight the efforts that all NHS staff, carers and volunteers put in to make a difference to the lives of their patients.

“All the individuals from the Cancer Alliance team who have worked on the Cytosponge test and the many people involved in our amazing COVID-19 vaccination programme will, I’m sure, be humbled by the nominations and the appreciation that MPs demonstrate for their work.”