A PIONEERING health project involving a charity in Cam has been nominated for a second prestigious national award.

GL11 Community Hub along with Gloucestershire NHS has been named in the NHS Parliamentary Awards 2024.

The Living Well with Pain Programme, which aims to support people suffering from chronic pain, has been nominated in the excellence in primary care and community category.

The scheme works with people who have experienced persistent pain to understand how the condition affects their lives.

The programme allows NHS specialists, local GPs and patients to work together to develop more effective, holistic treatment and support.

Earlier this year, the same project was also nominated at the HSJ Partnership Awards 2024 under the category ‘Best Not for Profit working in partnership with the NHS’.

Cathy Stannard from NHS Gloucestershire said: “We know persistent pain can have a massive impact on the lives of those living with the condition and their families.

“Anything we can do to offer more support and understand the experiences of people affected by pain is really valuable.”

Siobhan Baillie MP said: “I was absolutely delighted to nominate the team for this prestigious award because of the outstanding work it undertakes helping the community with issues like long covid and chronic pain.

“It is very important how effectively the team works with other organisations, including GPs, to ensure its programmes help and support those in need.

“GL11 was recently recognised by the government too when their Community Project in Cam received more than £60,000 from the Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund.

“I am looking forward to the awards ceremony and I will keep an eye out for GL11 as the winner in ‘the Excellence in Primary Care and Community Care Award’ category.”

Dursley GP Simon Opher, also a member of the project team, said: “This project, and other work we have undertaken together, has shown the power that exists to treat patients in a different way in our community.

“The typical medical model just isn’t appropriate for chronic pain. GL11 staff have been amazing to pull us all together.

Dr Opher - who is also Labour’s MP candidate - said: “We are so lucky to be working with Cathy Standard who is a nationally renowned pain specialist.

“This has been a triumph of partnership working and I am proud to be involved in it.”

The annual NHS Parliamentary Awards recognise the contribution of NHS staff, volunteers and other heath and care sectors, giving MPs the chance to showcase those working in their constituency in the healthcare profession.

The shortlist will be announced on Monday, June 10 with the ceremony taking place on Monday, July 1.

Stroud News and Journal: GL11 Community Hub

Stroud News and Journal: GL11 Community Hub has received two national award nominations for its Living Well with Pain Programme project GL11 Community Hub has received two national award nominations for its Living Well with Pain Programme project (Image: GL11 Community Hub)