A PROJECT based at Airedale Hospital has won a national accolade.

The Telehealth in Care Homes initiative scooped the Health Business magazine Telehealth Award.

Staff nurse Justus Ndiko and sister Michelle Bell collected the honour at a glittering ceremony in London.

They said: "There were some excellent organisations and initiatives represented at the ceremony and we were honoured to win the Telehealth category.

"It was a very proud moment collecting the award on behalf of the whole team."

The presentation was made by comedian and doctor, Phil Hammond.

As part of the Telehealth scheme, staff working from Airedale's digital hub provide round-the-clock clinical advice and support – via a two-way video link – for residents in more than 500 residential and nursing homes across the country.

Rachel Binks, nurse consultant for the service, said: "The digital care hub has been delivering a video assessment service to care homes 24 hours a day, seven days a week since 2011.

"I am very proud of our clinical team, which delivers first-class support to residents in care homes across the country, preventing unnecessary GP and district nurse visits as well as avoiding inappropriate admissions to hospital.

"The team is supported by the whole hospital and administration staff, who together make this an award-winning service."