South Shields doctor wins award for innovation

A South Tyneside doctor has been crowned as an '˜innovator of the year' in an awards ceremony which celebrates NHS leaders.
Dr Richard Cooper, second from left, with Falklands veteran Simon Weston, who hosted the awards, Michelle Brown, head of organisational development, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, and Alan Nobbs, senior programme lead, programme delivery & frameworks, NHS Leadership Academy.Dr Richard Cooper, second from left, with Falklands veteran Simon Weston, who hosted the awards, Michelle Brown, head of organisational development, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, and Alan Nobbs, senior programme lead, programme delivery & frameworks, NHS Leadership Academy.
Dr Richard Cooper, second from left, with Falklands veteran Simon Weston, who hosted the awards, Michelle Brown, head of organisational development, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, and Alan Nobbs, senior programme lead, programme delivery & frameworks, NHS Leadership Academy.

Dr Richard Cooper, a consultant radiologist at South Tyneside District Hospital, is head of Health Education North East’s school of radiology.

He is responsible for co-ordinating the education and training of junior doctors, ensuring that the future workforce is trained effectively to deliver the highest quality care to patients.

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He recently won the title of NHS Innovator of the Year in the North East NHS Leadership Recognition Awards for recognition of his passion for improving the quality of education and training.

Dr Cooper said: “I am delighted to receive this award on behalf of the School of Radiology for the innovative work the team has done in partnership with County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and with the University of Teesside to build and develop state-of-the-art, hi-tech training facilities that will greatly improve the standard of training across the region, which will ultimately translate to a better and safer patient healing experience.

“I would also like to thank my own department and the senior leadership team at South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, who support staff undertaking activities that benefit the wider region.”

Steve Williamson, South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive said: “We are very lucky to have Richard working with us at South Tyneside District Hospital and we are delighted that he has received this well-deserved recognition for his commitment to enhancing the reputation of the whole of the region for first class training for junior doctors.”

Dr Cooper and the other winners will now go through to the national awards, to be held on March 8 in London.