After another inspirational evening honouring the very best of Multiple Sclerosis care in the UK, the QuDoS in MS 2017 recognition programme came to a close this past Saturday night.

Bringing together MS professionals from across the country, this year’s recognition ceremony highlighted the most innovative approaches to MS care currently making a real difference to those affected by the condition.

Winners of the individual categories were as follows:

• Outstanding specialist nurse: Sarah White, St George’s Hospital, London

Sarah White (left) with Karen Vernon, MS nurse consultant at the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust

• Outstanding allied health professional: Tania Burge, North Bristol NHS Trust

Tania Burge (left) with Christine Singleton, lead clinical physiotherapist at the West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre

• Outstanding physician: Dr Adnan Al-Araji, Royal Stoke MS Centre

Nikki Embrey (left), on behalf of Dr Al-Araji, with Linden Muirhead, director of Information and Engagement at the MS Trust

• Outstanding pharmacist: Aoife Shields, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust

Aoife Shields (left) with Rachel Dorsey-Campbell, NHS England Clinical Commissioning Pharmacist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and winner of the 2016 Outstanding pharmacist category

Winners of the team categories were as follows:

• Team of the year: Dorset Multiple Sclerosis Service

The Dorset MS Service with Trishna Bharadia (far right), MS advocate and patient representative

• Innovation in care: MS Buddy Scheme, Wessex MS Therapy Centre

Carol Coates and Rosie Eliot of the MS Buddy Scheme team with Denise Middleton (far right), MS specialist at the Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust

• Accessible patient information in care: Frimley Park Hospital MS Service, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

The Frimley Park Hospital MS Service with Wendy Hendrie (far right), specialist physiotherapist in MS at the Norwich MS Centre

• Real-world evidence in care: Therapeutic Opportunities Team (TOPS Team), North Bristol NHS Trust

The Therapeutic Opportunities Team with Jonathan Randell, director of Market Access at Biogen

The Judges’ Special Awards went to the NHS Western Isles MS Service and the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust MS Team.

Rachel Morrison of the NHS Western Isles MS Service (left) with Professor Dawn Langdon, professor of Neuropsychology at the Royal Holloway University of London

The Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust MS Team with Jo Sopala (far right), director of Development at the MS Trust

Outside of each category’s winner, individuals and teams were also commended for their exceptional contribution to the quality of life and experience of care of those with MS. Recognised for their outstanding work were:

• Jody Barber, Hertfordshire Neurological Service
• Gillian Burdon, Wye Valley NHS Trust
• Ben Dorward, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Dr Timothy Harrower, North Devon District Hospital, Barnstaple and Royal Devon & Exeter Hospitals
• Gosia Kuran, King’s College Hospital
• Lesley Murray, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, NHSGGC
• Barts MS, Queen Mary University of London, Digesting Science
• BrAMS (Bristol and Avon MS Centre) Community Rehabilitation Service
• Community MS Specialist Nurse Team, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Community Neurology Service, West Norfolk, Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust
• MS Specialist Rehabilitation Team, West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Queen Elizabeth MS Team, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham

From all of us at the QuDoS team, thank you for all your hard work. We look forward to next year!

Keep checking back to the QuDoS blog in the coming months for exclusive content from all those honoured at this year’s ceremony.