AHA Link-2024-2 July-August - Flipbook - Page 11
Orthoptist wins prestigious award
profound and will ensure that future generations
of AHPs will continue to benefit from robust and
comprehensive training opportunities.’
Paramedic wins Reservist of the Year
Diane Taylor, Leadership Centre, presents the trophy to Patrick
McCance.
Patrick McCance is the winner of this year’s Patricia
Blackburn Award, sponsored by the Leadership
Centre. He is manager of Orthoptic Service, Western
Health and Social Care Trust and has been dedicated
to orthoptics for 38 years. He led the way in
developing orthoptic services in stroke, glaucoma,
special schools and adult disability centres. Within
his own service he has grown and shaped an
exceptional team of experienced orthoptists but also
widely impacting orthoptic services in other trusts
by creating flagship models of best practice.
This important award is in memory of Patricia
Blackburn who was an orthoptist, an AHP
commissioner in the legacy Southern Board and the
Chief AHP Officer in the Department of Health.
Special Recognition for Denise Nixon
Denise holds the special trophy, created by art therapist
Suzanne MacKenzie (second from left) while DoH colleagues
Alison Keys and Michelle Tennyson join the celebration.
Cpl Scott Mawhinney won the Reservist of the Year
award, sponsored by the 38 Irish Brigade. He has
been a paramedic for 14 years and is currently
employed as a station supervisor for the Northern
Ireland Ambulance Service, a post he has held for
the past 4 years.
Scot joined the Army Reserve in 2021 into 253
(North Irish) Medical Regiment as a combat medical
technician and quickly achieved the class 1 status
allowing him to be employed as an army paramedic.
He is a regular feature at regimental training
exercises, frequently regarded as a mentor for his
combat medical technician colleagues; he not only
has the requisite depth of experience, but also
the patience and temperament to ensure that his
guidance is eagerly accepted and wholly welcomed.
Cpl Mawhinney is fully active in all aspects of his
Reserve Service. He makes himself available for most
Regional and Regimental Engagement activities
and is a superb ambassador for the paramedic
cadre of the Army Medical Services Reserve, and the
wider Army. He has supported Armed Forces Days,
Exercise Medical Endeavor, AMS Awareness events
and various outreach events such as presentations
to trainee paramedics studying at Ulster University,
Derry-Londonderry (Magee) Campus.
He is a force multiplier who brings his extensive
civilian paramedic experience to his Army
Reserve role at every opportunity: He is friendly,
approachable, engaging and respected both
professionally and personally by peers, juniors and
seniors alike.
A new award for those outside the AHP community
who have made a substantial contribution to the
work of AHPs is Denise Nixon, Post Registration
Education Commissioning Co-Ordinator,
Department of Health. She was presented with a
special trophy created by art therapist Suzanne
MacKenzie.
Suzanne said: ‘Her impact on the professional
growth and development of AHPs and the broader
healthcare community within Northern Ireland is
From left to right Professor Mark Taylor, the Lord Lieutenant,
Cpl Scott Mawhinney, Col Christopher Clarke.
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