A WOMAN from Allostock who has campaigned for health services to remain in Knutsford has been lauded by the NHS at an awards ceremony.

Charlotte Peters-Rock was shortlisted for the first ‘Participant of the Year’ excellence in participation award developed by NHS England at the NHS Healthcare Innovation Expo held on March 3.

The awards celebrated the outstanding contributions of people and organisations across the country who are transforming people’s lives, improving health and care services and putting patients, service users, carers and communities at the heart of health and care.

Charlotte was nominated by NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group for this national award, due to her drive, enthusiasm and positive involvement within the work of the CCG, enabling patient and carer views to be heard and more importantly, acted upon.

Charlotte’s drive and enthusiasm for wanting health and care in Eastern Cheshire to reflect the needs of its population, has culminated in Charlotte being one of its ‘Caring Together’ champions, promoting the work of its integrated care programme in Eastern Cheshire.

Matthew Cunningham, corporate services manager at NHS Eastern Cheshire CCG, said: “Charlotte’s sheer energy and dynamic contribution to improving care in Eastern Cheshire is one of the reasons why we felt that her contribution should be recognised on the national stage through these inaugural Excellence in Participation Awards.

“As a CCG, it is important that we continue to involve people like Charlotte who want to ensure that the NHS remains for years to come. The more we can get people involved in our CCG, the better results we will get for our population.”

Charlotte said: “As a shortlisted NHS England Participant of the Year, even though I did not win, I found it a very valuable experience to be able to attend and speak at the two day NHS England EXPO.

“Taking every opportunity which presented – and there were very many – I listened and spoke to people at a regional and national level, to find out more about what is happening in the health sector within our country and to express my own views about the problems of which I have personally learned experience and I intend to follow through, with various people, on that.”

“Having been put forward for this award, by Rebecca Patel and Matthew Cunningham from the CCG, I am grateful to have been given the chance to speak on a national stage, and look forward to other opportunities as they present.”