Paul Mainwaring wins Unsung Heroes & Heroines award

Paul Mainwaring

Paul Mainwaring is one of three winners in the Institute of Healthcare Management’s first ever Unsung Heroes amp; Heroines awards, which recognise the ordinary men and women whose hard work and dedication ensures their local communities receive the highest standard of NHS care.  It was announced at the Institute of Healthcare Management’s Annual Awards dinner, held at Harrogate International Centre.

The recognition is for his work as Chairman of the Patients’ Council, an independent group that was set up in June 2005 to speak for patients affected by the Healthy Futures reorganisation of healthcare in Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton, Bury, Oldham and North Manchester.  

Speaking after the awards dinner, Mr Mainwaring said: “I am absolutely bowled over by the award.  It’s something I never expected and it should be shared with the other Patients’ Council and Healthy Futures Transport Action Group members, who give so much time and bring so much experience to our work.  I would also like to thank the primary care trust and hospital clinicians and managers for their willingness to listen to what patients want from their NHS.  Without that commitment to a patient-led NHS, the Patients’ Council wouldn’t be able to achieve anything.”  

Trevor Purt, Chief Executive of Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust, said: "Paul has finally been given the recognition he deserves for bringing the voice of local patients direct to the PCT and cementing what is now a strong relationship between NHS clinicians, management and patients.  As a new PCT, we are convinced that this time we want patients at the heart of service redesign every step of the way.  We need to know what patients want from us and we need to know how better we can engage with our population in terms of how we can drive new services and improve the services that we’ve currently got."