The winners and runners up of the Ask About Medicines Awards for Excellence 2006 were announced by Harry Cayton, National Director for Patients and the Public at the Department of Health, at a presentation ceremony on Tuesday 6 June 2006.

There were over 75 entries to the awards, the inaugural Ask About Medicines Awards for Excellence, and competition was fierce.

Entries were received from PCTs, local health boards, individual GP practices, pharmaceutical companies, voluntary organisations and health charities.

A panel of prestigious judges assessed the entries.

Details on the winning entries can be found under the description of each category together with images of the shortlisted materials. Photos from the presentation ceremony can be found here.

The Ask About Medicines Awards for Excellence were developed in partnership with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). We would like to thank the Patient Information Forum (PiF) for supporting the launch of the awards at their annual conference and for providing the prize for the winning entries (membership of PiF and a free place at the next PiF Conference).

Category A: Excellence in Providing Medicines Information to Medicine Users and the Public

Category B: Excellence in Improving Communication between Healthcare Professionals and Patients or Medicine Users

Category C: Excellence in the Use of Technology

Category D: Excellence in Reaching Diverse Populations

Category E: Excellence in Communicating with Carers or Non-healthcare Professionals Working with Patients and Medicine Users

The winners and runners up of the Ask About Medicines Awards for Excellence 2006 were announced by Harry Cayton, National Director for Patients and the Public at the Department of Health, at a presentation ceremony on Tuesday 6 June 2006.

We had over 75 entries to the awards, the inaugural Ask About Medicines Awards for Excellence, and competition was fierce.

Further information on the winning entries and photos from the awards ceremony will be available shortly. In the meantime, below is a list of the winners, runners up and highly commended entries.

Thank you to our judges and to all those people who entered the awards.

Category A: Excellence in providing medicines information to medicine users and the public

Winner:

The Treatment Support Partnership with Eye Care for You

Runner-up:

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with Patient Yellow Card

Highly Commended:

The Multiple Sclerosis Trust with Disease modifying drug therapies: a general guide for people with MS

Highly Commended:

Hull & East Riding Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Partnership with First Pill Teach

Category B: Excellence in improving communication between healthcare professionals and patients or medicine users

Winner:

Hull & East Riding Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Partnership with First Pill Teach

Runner-up:

Chronic Granulomatous Disorder (CGD) Research Trust with Notes on the Management of CGD

Highly commended:

Macmillan Cancer Support with A directory of information materials for people with cancer

Highly commended:

The Steven Shackman Practice with The Essentials Tests & Checks Booklet

Category C: Excellence in the use of technology

Winner:

Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust with Text messaging initiative for patients who are hard of hearing

Runner-up:

Cancerbackup with Cancerbackup touchscreens

Category D: Excellence in reaching diverse populations

Winner:

Calderstones NHS Trust with Ask About Medicines Week activities for clients with learning disabilities

Runner-up:

Cancerbackup with Cancer information for people from BME communities

Category E: Excellence in communicating with carers or non-healthcare professionals working with patients and medicine users

Winner:

Neath Port Talbot Local Health Board with Improving Medicines Management in the Domiciliary Care Setting – Medication Training for Domiciliary Care Assistants

Runner-up:

Bedford PCT with Pharmaceutical Support to Hostels