KEIGHLEY man Ed Bury has been named a Volunteering Healthcare Hero.

He was given the award by the Keighley and Airedale Clinical Commissioning Group for his efforts to help fellow patients get involved at the Kilmeny, Long Lee and Oakworth GP practices.

Ed's work ensures that patient views and voices are taken into consideration when new patient services are being designed and launched.

Also receiving Healthcare Hero awards were Dr Tom Ratcliff, based at Holycroft surgery in Keighley, and Bill Graham, community lead with the Modality Partnership, which oversees local GP surgeries.

The pair were honoured for delivering new and innovative projects and helping reduce health inequalities across Airedale.

Examples include waiting room activities, Social Prescribing Week, supporting local groups and activities, and bringing match-funding into the health system locally.

The Modality Group's chief officer Dr Andy Parsons said: "We are developing new and innovative plans to make it easier for patients to get the help they need. Our partnerships with patients and communities is core to the success of general practice and the evolution of patient care in the years ahead.

"These awards recognise the investment we are making in communities, involvement of patients in our service, and our commitment to making general practice responsive to changing healthcare needs."