TWO innovative healthcare projects which support people in Hampshire have been endorsed by MPs and recognised for their ‘excellence’.

The NHS West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) won the Excellence in Primary Care and Excellence in Healthcare categories for the South East region at the NHS Parliamentary Awards.

The awards celebrate the work of NHS staff and those who work alongside them to improve and join up care in their communities.

They also enable health and care organisations to engage and share their work with local MPs, who in turn chose individuals or organisations as awards winners.

NHS West Hampshire was named as the regional winner for Excellence in Healthcare category following its work on the ICON Preventative Programme, and the Quality Team won in the Excellence in Primary Care category for its ‘Restore2’ system.

The ICON Preventative Programme, delivered in partnership with Hampshire Safeguarding Children’s Board, helps parents to cope with a crying baby, reducing the risk of Abusive Head Trauma.

ICON represents an acronym, reminding parents that infant crying is normal, comforting methods can sometimes soothe the baby, it is okay to walk away and that they should never, ever shake a baby.

Kim Jones, designated nurse at Safeguarding Children for NHS West Hampshire CCG, said: “We are over the moon to be recognised for such a simple but powerful campaign.”

The ‘Restore2’ system, West Hampshire CCG’s other award winning initiative, helps staff decide if a resident is just ‘under the weather’ or at risk of a more serious illness.

Staff combine ‘soft signs’ with standard observations, using a 20-point scale, to determine whether residents need urgent assessment and treatment.

Matthew Richardson, deputy director of quality and nursing, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been recognised by such a high profile national NHS award.”

The projects are now shortlisted for the national awards, to be decided at a ceremony in Parliament on July 10.