STOURBRIDGE’S Mary Stevens Hospice has won a prestigious national award for development and innovation at the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards.

The ‘No Barriers Here’ team won the award for their work in co-production with people and communities who experience inequity in palliative and end of life care.

The award recognises an individual, group or organisation finding new models of care or research that make a real difference to the lives of people using healthcare service.

The award was presented on March 3 by newsreader Angela Rippon to hospice CEO and matron Claire Towns, Dr Jed Jerwood, No Barriers Here research lead, collaborators Dudley Voices for Choice and members of the co-production team from several No Barriers Here projects which consist of research, community workshops and a national facilitator education programme.

Hospice chief Claire Towns said: “We are absolutely delighted to win this award which recognises the ground-breaking work of No Barriers Here and The Mary Stevens Hospice.

“This programme is completely unique, and the hard work and dedication of the team has enabled a platform where No Barriers Here is nationally recognised as excellent practice towards ensuring palliative and end of life care is equitable for all.”

The awards are organised by Care Management Matters and supported by The National Care Forum, The Care Provider Alliance, Learning Disability England, The Association of Mental Health Providers and VODG.