Kent and Medway psychiatrist recognised at HSJ Awards

Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr Afifa Qazi, was one of only 10 finalists, drawn from across England, in the Clinical Leader of Year category at last night’s prestigious Health Service Journal’s (HSJ) awards.

She was joined by the trust’s pharmacy team as finalists in the Medicines, Pharmacy and Prescribing Initiative of the Year for their work on a new initiative – called Consultant Connect - that helps community mental health practitioners review their patients’ physical health more promptly, without them having to see a GP or attend hospital, and so provide enhanced care.

About the HSJ awards

For over 40 years, HSJ awards have been dedicated to sharing best practice, improving patient outcomes, and driving better services across the NHS. The Clinical Leader of the Year award recognises exceptional leaders who make a difference to patients’ lives. The Medicines, Pharmacy and Prescribing Initiative award recognises the fact medicines have the potential to make a significant contribution to addressing health inequalities and improving patient care, and celebrates an often-overlooked group of critical enablers of transformation, innovation and change.

Receiving recognition at the HSJ Awards

Dr Qazi welcomed her selection as a finalist by saying she was “thrilled to see a spotlight being shone on mental health care, given the unfortunate stigma that can still be associated it.”

Described as “wonder woman” by one of the many Kent and Medway families she has helped, Dr Qazi was recognised for being an exceptional clinical leader, making a difference to patients’ lives.

Supporting her nomination, Graham, who lived in Medway when he reached out to the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) for help, said:

“Without Afifa the outcome for my son, and his life, could have been devastating. I have absolutely no comprehension of how we could have managed without her.

“My son has schizophrenia, ADHD, and autism but all was fine, other than him not taking the medication he had been prescribed. Without our knowledge, he stopped using it, and one awful night he stabbed me because he thought I was an imposter. He was sent to prison on remand but I knew he did not belong there, he was genuinely ill. Thankfully I found Afifa who went above and beyond to get him the support and placement he needed.

“He was eventually found not guilty, mainly due to information supplied by his mental health team. Thanks to this, and Afifa’s ongoing support, he has since flourished. He’s living back home with us, and has even joined a golf club and started driving lessons. We have since moved to another county, but I remain in connection with and am hugely grateful to Afifa.”

Dr Qazi added:

“I have been a psychiatrist for 24 years and while I have definitely seen attitudes towards mental health improving, it is still very misunderstood and stigmas sadly still exist.

“Being recognised like this is so important as it allows me to do even more to put mental health care on the map, continue breaking down barriers for people who need my, and my colleagues’, help and celebrate innovation and excellence in Kent and Medway.

“I am passionate about helping people recover from mental ill health and have spent 5 enjoyable years in Kent and Medway, tackling shortages of speciality clinicians in the region, working with colleagues to improve the care we can offer and responding to the unique health inequalities that exist here. I am looking forward to more years, helping to shape mental health services that transform ‘living’ into ‘living well’.”

Chief Pharmacist Jagdip Bahia said:

“Many patients with serious mental illnesses also experience physical health conditions that must be addressed together to improve their overall well-being. The pharmacy team’s collaborative work with Consultant Connect has been a game-changer for our community mental health teams and their patients, who can now have their physical health reviewed more promptly.

“Community mental health practitioners often work in isolation or in small teams, either in patients’ homes or in community clinics. Consultant Connect gives them immediate access to advice and guidance from consultants in 21 specialties across the country, including cardiology and neurology.

“The recent independent investigation of the NHS by Lord Darzi highlighted missed opportunities in embracing digital healthcare. This project is one example of how the trust is addressing this gap, and showcasing the transformative potential of digital solutions in healthcare.”

Find out more information about the awards on the HSJ Awards website.