BOLTON health teams scooped two medical health gongs at a national awards ceremony.

Staff based at the Royal Bolton Hospital and Bolton Council’s Public Health took home British Medical Awards (BMJ) for helping patients quit smoking and for alcohol care.

The award for best Gastroenterology and Alcohol Care went to Dr Kieran Moriarty and his team at the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Moriarty, a gastroenterologist specialising in alcohol-related illnesses at the Royal Bolton said his team were thrilled to win the “highest national accolade”.

He said: “Our multidisciplinary team includes all gastroenterologists, specialist, endoscopy and ward nurses, psychiatrists and numerous health care professionals.

"Since 1990, we have received unstinting support and encouragement from our hospital managers, especially from Dr Jackie Bene, our chief executive.

“The award reflects our deep commitment to provide high quality services to our patients, their families and carers, who are a constant source of inspiration.

“We have also received tremendous support from Dr Stephen Liversedge and our GP colleagues, as well as from the Clinical Commissioning Group, Public Health, the local authority and our community commissioners and providers.

“This accolade will be a great stimulus to all in the trust to strive to further improve the health of the Bolton community, who are a joy to care for”.

The award for the best Cancer Care Team went to the Inpatient Smoking Cessation Pathway at Bolton Council Public Health.

Cllr Linda Thomas, deputy leader of Bolton Council, said: “To win this accolade of best Cancer Care Team at the BMJ awards is a great achievement by everyone who has been involved in the project over the years and testament to the partnership between Bolton Council’s public health team and the foundation trust.

“Our officers have been working with the trust for a number of years to help clinical staff to help patients who are admitted to hospital to stop smoking, and provide them with the practical help and guidance that they need to quit.

"We work very closely with the hospital on a number of issues, collectively aiming to drive up quality and improve patient experience, so we are pleased that our joint approach has been acknowledged in this way.”