DALMUIR’s Golden Jubilee hospital has won a top UK award for its innovative care to heart transplant patients.

The specialist cardiothoracic surgery care team was led by senior physiotherapists Fiona Nolan, Ross Marscheider and Natalie Lambie, and received the Scottish Government’s award for ‘Improving quality: measuring and demonstrating impact’ in the UK Advancing Healthcare Awards.

The pioneering team was the first in the UK to mobilise a patient on an intra-aortic balloon pump awaiting transplant back in 2018, in collaboration with a Multi-Disciplinary Team on the National Services Division ward.

Fiona Nolan, team lead cardiothoracic physiotherapist, said: “The team feels very honoured for our work to be recognised in this way. Although this was a physiotherapy-led service development, we had great support from the wide range of colleagues.”

Nurse Director Anne Marie Cavanagh said: “I am absolutely delighted at the result of the Advancing Healthcare Awards and would like to congratulate our talented and committed members of staff for this incredible achievement.

“This initiative has been of immense benefit to patients pre-operatively, and has also led to improved post-operative outcomes.

“This award highlights the team’s commitment to their patients; they deserve this accolade so much and we are all extremely proud that their efforts have been recognised at a national level.”