Published: 12 January 2012
by TOM FOOT

TV presenter Bill Oddie has presented mental health service awards to NHS staff at St Pancras Hospital.

Elizabeth Farrell, based at Kentish Town Camden Mental Health Team, won a “Staff Nominated by Service Users Award”.

A person she cares for, who did not want to be named, said: “Elizabeth, with her expert help and experience, has enabled me to live independently in my own home, and to be able to enjoy my home, which has gone a long way to improving my mental health.”

Other winners included Lucy Harvey, a support worker at the Memory Clinic in Hampstead, and PC Peter McKen, who is based at Kentish Town police station.

PC McKen was recently called to an incident in which he spent two and a half hours helping a person who was at risk of self-harm before following this up with daily check-ups offering support and encouragement.

The Substance Misuse Team at Pentonville Prison were praised for their high standards in a challenging environment.

The full list of winners were:

• Service User Award for the Linda Polan Trophy – Alex Stafford-Hill
• Carers Award – Kate Harwood
• Staff Recognition Award Nominated by Service Users – Elizabeth Farrell and Lii McKenzie
• Individual Innovation/Improvement – Christopher Denney
• Team improvement – SMS Pentonville
• Team Innovation – Dunkley ward and The Camden Mental Health Assessment and Advice Team.
• Support Worker – Lucy Harvey
• Social Inclusion and Recovery – Maria Marco
• Community Awareness and Engagement – PC Pete McKen
• Special Leadership award – Alan Bartlett
• Special award – Jules Thorn Recovery Centre Team