The Poppy Factory has been shortlisted for the Military and Civilian Health Partnership Award at the HSJ Awards, recognising an outstanding contribution to healthcare and health improvement for the Armed Forces community.
1350+ entries have been received for this year’s prestigious awards, with 234 projects and individuals reaching the final shortlist.
The Poppy Factory was shortlisted for its partnership work with the NHS to support veterans with health conditions towards employment. Among the veterans registered for our services, 4 in 5 have a mental health condition and 1 in 2 has a physical health issue. However, in 2020, fewer than 1 in 6 referrals to The Poppy Factory’s services came from the NHS.
Since 2021, the Veteran & Family Services team has worked with NHS England and local NHS services to reach more veterans and improve support by forging stronger connections. By 2023, NHS referrals had increased by nearly 200%, to 1 in 3. The team also collaborated with the NHS to develop a new Navigator service, boosting opportunities for veterans who are furthest from work in Cheshire & Merseyside and in South Wales.
Debbie Boughtflower, The Poppy Factory’s Director of Operations, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted in the HSJ Awards 2024, showing just how far our team has come in building effective partnerships with NHS services across the UK. Our NHS partners are referring members of the Armed Forces community to our services in greater numbers than ever, enabling veterans and families to improve their health and wellbeing and reduce social isolation. Against such tough competition from others doing fantastic work in this field, we’re excited to be part of the awards ceremony in November.”
HSJ editor Alastair McLellan said:
“It always gives me great pleasure to congratulate our finalists at this stage of the judging process and this year is no exception as we acknowledge The Poppy Factory for being shortlisted in the category of Military and Civilian Health Partnership.
“However, it’s always important to remember that the HSJ Awards are not just a celebration of success stories but also a platform to shape the future of the NHS.
“We can’t wait to welcome our finalists to the awards ceremony in November and to recognise and applaud such impressive achievements across the sector. Huge thanks also go to our headline partner, Vodafone Business, who share our mission of driving the standard of healthcare excellence and creating better patient experiences.”
The winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at Evolution London on 21 November.
The 2024 awards judging panel included influential and respected figures within the healthcare community, including Stephen Powis, National Medical Director, NHS England, Rosa Waddingham, Chief Nurse, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB and Matthew Style, Director General, Secondary Care and Integration Department of Health & Social Care, and Chief Executives from NHS Trusts across the UK. The full list of nominees for the 2024 HSJ awards can be found at awards.hsj.co.uk
