Colleagues from Walsall Council and the NHS were recognised at awards, which celebrate the collective efforts of partners across health, local authority and the voluntary and community sector to improve cancer prevention, screening and early diagnosis for residents.
The Public Health team was recognised for its strong commitment, expertise and collaborative approach to tackling health inequalities and improving outcomes. This includes delivering cancer screening workshops in the community, alongside targeted outreach work with residents to raise awareness of NHS screening programmes and helping residents to improve their understanding of cancer risks and prevention.
The team has also developed strong and trusted partnerships with NHS organisations, including Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and the voluntary and community sector, working together across a range of projects to ensure support reaches those who need it most.
The work of the council’s Business Insights team was critical in contributing the latest data and insight. Their work continues to play an important role in informing and strengthening cancer prevention and early diagnosis activity across the borough, working alongside the Public Health team.
“ “This is a fantastic achievement for the Public Health and Business Insights teams and NHS colleagues who go above and beyond to work collectively with partners across the borough. They help residents understand cancer signs and symptoms and learn more about screening programmes available. We are proud of what we have achieved and are motivated, more than ever, to keep going. A huge congratulations to everyone for this well-deserved recognition.” “
Nadia Inglis, Director of Public Health
Walsall Council
It was also a successful evening for colleagues working within cancer services across Walsall.
Joanne Barlow, Lead for the Self‑Care and Cancer Outreach Team at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, was named Individual of the Year (Walsall) in recognition of her work to reduce inequalities in cancer care.
Claire Murphy, Health Promotion Specialist from the Breast Screening Team, was recognised for her work to improve breast screening attendance, supporting more people to engage with vital screening services.
Nicky Adams, Lead Cancer Nurse at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, received a Long Service Award, celebrating an exceptional 40 years of dedicated service in cancer care in Walsall.
“ We were privileged to be able to attend the Cancer Care awards last week. It was inspiring to see the achievements and good work going on throughout the Black Country. We were most proud of our achievements here in Walsall. Joanne Barlow, Nicky Adams and Sindy Dhallu are just some names from the many nominees who were recognised for their hard work and achievement in driving forward cancer prevention and care. We look forward to seeing what the exciting future brings. Once again, well done and congratulations to all. “
Sara Morley, Services Manager for Specialist Palliative and End of Life Care
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
The awards ceremony, hosted by the Black Country Integrated Care Board with support from the West Midlands Cancer Alliance and Macmillan Cancer Support, celebrates individuals and teams across the Black Country who consistently go above and beyond to drive improvements in cancer prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and support.
This recognition highlights the strength of partnership working across the system and reflects a shared commitment to improving outcomes for Walsall residents, with continued focus on cancer prevention, screening uptake and early diagnosis over the coming year.
