Caring hospital consultant up for prestigious award

Caring consultant Rachael Moses from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals has been shortlisted as clinical leader of the year at the Health Service Journal Awards.AASMA DAY talks to a mum whose terminally ill son is one of Rachael's patients about why she thoroughly deserves to win.
Rachael Moses, consultant physiotherapist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, with her patient Ben Styles, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophyRachael Moses, consultant physiotherapist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, with her patient Ben Styles, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Rachael Moses, consultant physiotherapist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, with her patient Ben Styles, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy

“Rachael is a godsend and an angel and has made a massive impact on our family.”

These are the words of a mum whose son with Duchenne muscular dystrophy is able to live independently in his own home on a ventilator with the support of carers thanks to the help of his hospital consultant.

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Diane Styles, 51, who lives in Freckleton, near Preston, is full of praise for Rachael Moses, consultant physiotherapist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who has been nominated in the Clinical Leader of the Year category at the Health Service Journal Awards.

Ben StylesBen Styles
Ben Styles

Diane’s son Ben, 30, has the muscle wasting disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy and is on a ventilator. Ben’s identical twin brother Joe died from the condition in 2014.

The brothers were diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at the age of four and were not expected to survive past their late teens.

They both lost the ability to walk at the age of eight and began using wheelchairs and by the age of 14, they could no longer move their arms or feed themselves.

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Diane explains: “Ben cannot move a muscle. He can’t breathe for himself and can’t feed himself or do anything apart from speak.

Ben StylesBen Styles
Ben Styles

“But his brain is completely intact and he is highly intelligent and he speaks very highly of Rachael.

“Rachael is a godsend and an angel.

“Rachael has been looking after Ben for three years and she has made a massive impact on Ben’s life and the whole family’s life.

“She is tremendous at her job and when we see her, it does not feel like you are going in to see a consultant. She is more like a friend.

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“With the tools and training she has given Ben and his family and carers, he is able to live independently in his own house on a ventilator.

“Ben lives in Broadfield, Preston in his own adapted bungalow with 24 hour carers.

“Rachael is just amazing and we have her on hand 24/7. She has even given her personal mobile number to the family.

“Ben feels safer knowing she is on hand if he ever needs her.

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“Rachael is wonderful and to her, it is not just a job. She is genuinely caring and kind.”

“She is extremely deserving of this award and I think she should win.”

Rachael, who is consultant physiotherapist in respiratory, has been selected as a finalist in the Health Service Journal Awards from a huge number of entries.

The Health Service Journal Awards are the most sought after accolade in British healthcare and the largest awards programme of its kind in the world.

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For 36 years the awards have recognised, celebrated and promoted the finest achievements in the NHS and showcased them to the service’s most influential leaders.

Samantha Wood, clinical nurse specialist in respiratory at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, nominated Rachael along with Dr Aash Vyas, respiratory consultant.

Samantha says: “Rachael absolutely deserves this nomination.

“She has always gone above and beyond for any patient she has dealings with and is a truly inspirational manager, colleague and mentor.”

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Dr Aash Vyas says: “Rachael has had an amazing impact on improving care and new ways of working not only for this trust, our region but also on the national and international stage as well.”

Rachael says: “I am in complete shock that I am a HSJ finalist! It’s an honour though and I am extremely proud to be shortlisted and to be flying the flag for consultant physiotherapists as there are not many of us in the NHS.

“If this helps to demonstrate the leadership potential of all the Allied Health Professionals then I already feel like a winner.”

Earlier this year Rachael was named as a ‘Health Star’ by ITV’s Good Morning Britain. She was runner up in the ‘Hospital Health Star’ category of their Health Star Awards.

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Rachael was nominated for that award for consistently going above and beyond to help her patients, many of whom have very life-limiting conditions, as well as supporting their families.

She has helped to grant wishes for a woman who had just days left to live; she takes her patients out for day trips to the cinema and she even helps to find them a job- all in her spare time!

• The winners of the Health Service Journal Awards 2017 will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on November 22.