Falls expert loves helping South Tyneside's elderly - and she loves our Best of Health Awards too!

Suba Thiru works as a consultant in care for the elderly at South Tyneside Hospital and loves her specialist area - in falls which affect older people.

It’s a role which is so important as awareness and prevention can lead to reductions in issues such as fractures among some of the area’s most vulnerable residents.

“We have a high prevalence of patients admitted with falls and it is one of the biggest factors,” said Suba who has worked for the trust for seven years.

She spoke to the Gazette to give her backing to this year’s Best of Health Awards, especially for the way they give staff a real boost.

She is one of the team who works on ward 19 where patients are elderly and can be in either the admission and rehab categories.

Suba said: “The reason I took this job is because of the ward 19 staff. It is a fantastic ward to work on.”

But as well as treating those who come into hospital, there’s a determined effort to help people avoid falls and prevent admissions in the first place.

A falls care plan is completed for every adult over 65 and Suba said: “Everyone in that age bracket is at risk of falling.”

She loves her job and said: “Sometimes it is hard physically and emotionally.”

But she praised the Gazette’s Best of Health Awards and said they provided a “boost for morale.

“They remind you that you are doing a good job and you are being valued.”

Suba is one example of the excellent people working in the health profession and you can put them in the running for honours by nominating them for a Best of Health Award.

The sponsors for this year’s awards are South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, and the Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group.

The deadline for all nominations to be submitted is Monday, April 2, and the judges will meet the following week to decide on the shortlist.

The final will be held at the Roker Hotel, in Sunderland, on Thursday, April 26.

To nominate, send your name, address and phone number, as well as your email address, if applicable.

Remember to include the category you are putting your nominated cause into.

Also send the name of the person you wish to nominate, along with their address, telephone number and email (if known).

Send all the details to Lynn Wild by no later than Monday, April 2.

Email those entries to [email protected] or send them to Lynn Wild, Alexander House, Second Floor, Rainton Bridge Business Park, Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, DH4 5RA.

THE CATEGORIES.

l GP Practice of the Year.

l Hospital Doctor of the Year.

l Nurse of the Year.

l Community Nurse of the Year.

l Dentist/ Practice of the Year.

l Optometrist of the Year.

l Therapist of the Year.

l Care worker of the Year.

l Dental Nurse of the Year.

l Midwife of the Year.

l Pharmacist of the Year.

l Team of the Year.

l Customer Service/ Unsung hero Award.

l Long term Achievement.