A HOST of brilliant nominees are in the running for the Health and Care Champion of the Year title at the Tele's 2024 Community Champion Awards.
Each have excelled, and continue to excel, in what they do for people here in Inverclyde and also farther afield.
We look forward to welcoming them all to our glittering prizegiving dinner at Greenock Town Hall on June 7.
Your Voice
Your Voice has people with lived experience of health issues, caring and their families at the heart of their work.
They have listened to and worked with local people to address the existing and emerging challenges facing the population.
Their evaluations and feedback have provided evidence that their work has enhanced the health, wellbeing and resilience of communities across Inverclyde.
It is a dynamic organisation addressing new challenges such as Long Covid and have set up one of the first support groups.
Your Voice was recently visited by a Member of the Scottish Parliament and praised for its work.
Skylark Centre - Inverclyde Royal Hospital
This children's unit in Inverclyde Royal Hospital has been transformed into a much happier and brighter place for youngsters to come for treatment following a major upgrade.
Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity stepped in to refurbish the Skylark Centre, which cares for around 800 patients a year with consultant-led clinics ranging from rheumatology to diabetes - and it also has community nurse-led physiotherapy and dieticians.
As part of the £36,000 facelift the clinical feel to the waiting room and neurodevelopmental assessment area has been replaced with colourful murals, stunning photographs of Inverclyde and brand new furniture, including a TV for older children.
On top of this the charity provided an additional £9,500 to include sensory equipment for the centre.
Inverclyde Royal Hospital Staff
The care received from Inverclyde Royal Hospital inspired a former patient to raise more than £8,000 in a bid to thank the ‘amazing’ staff who cared for her.
Betty Murray was diagnosed with bowel cancer in May 2022.
Despite living in Dumbarton, she requested that her treatment take place at the IRH due to the connection she felt with staff, including clinical nurse specialist Lesley Ann Glancy and consultant Dr Sylvia Brown.
Now, just over a year on, she continues attending for check-ups, but is considered to be cancer-free.
Her recent race night raised a total of £8,200, with the funds to go towards a piece of equipment used in the surgery she had.
Betty said: "From the beginning all the staff were amazing with me, I cannot speak highly enough of them."
Dance for Parkinson's
A man from Gourock who has lived with the impact of Parkinson’s disease for the past five years says joining a dance group has given him a whole new lease of life.
David Souza has praised a pioneering weekly class at the Beacon Arts Centre which helps him manage his condition by giving him regular exercise and the chance to meet new people.
Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurological disorder in the world, and around 12,400 people in Scotland have a diagnosis of the condition, for which there is currently no cure.
David was diagnosed at the age of 71, after he noticed he was moving more slowly and struggling with his balance and co-ordination.
His Parkinson’s nurse recommended the class at the Beacon, which is accompanied by live piano music, to help him exercise and meet new people.
The classes help to develop confidence and creativity, while also using dance to address specific issues associated with Parkinson’s, such as balance, co-ordination, gait and flexibility.
Andrew Nisbet
This Greenock man who has helped to save the lives of tiny newborn babies has been honoured by blood bank bosses as he reaches a remarkable milestone.
Andrew Nisbet, 62, has been donating blood and platelets through the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service since the early 1990s.
Around a year ago, Andrew was asked by the service to donate his platelets to help neo-natals who need emergency treatment.
He recently heard that some of the parents of newborns saved by his donations wanted to say 'thank you' to him in person.
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