Physiotherapy and rehabilitation were well represented at this year’s Advancing Healthcare Awards Northern Ireland, with a number of services, individuals and innovative projects recognised for their contribution to patient care.
A major highlight was the success of the Belfast Trust Falls Prevention Roadshow, led by Joy Cooper and the Community Falls Prevention and Management Service.
The initiative won both the Award for Creative and Innovative Practice and the overall award. The roadshow brought falls prevention advice and access to specialist support into community settings, demonstrating the value of taking services closer to the people who need them.
Bernie McGreevy from the South Eastern Trust was recognised for her work on ‘DECISION’, an ethical decision-making framework for allied health professionals in Northern Ireland. Co-produced with AHPs, service users and academics, the framework supports practitioners to navigate complex ethical situations and make consistent, person-centred decisions.
The South Eastern Trust also received recognition for its Person-Centred Care for Musculoskeletal Services through Community Appointment Days initiative. Eilis McGarvey, Allie Cameron, Nikki Scott, Reuben McIlrath and colleagues were recognised for an approach that has improved access to musculoskeletal services and reduced average referral-to-treatment times by 15 weeks.
There was further recognition for the next generation of the profession, with Claire McGoldrick of Ulster University winning Outstanding Undergraduate of the Year. Her achievement highlighted the importance of patient-centred care, communication, teamwork and professional development in preparing future physiotherapists.
Shortlisted projects
Several other physiotherapy-related projects and practitioners were shortlisted. Ronan O’Kane of the Western Trust and Professor Chris Bleakley of Ulster University were recognised for their research, Making Every Contact Count: From First Contact to Lasting Change in Physiotherapy, exploring how health promotion can be incorporated into routine first contact physiotherapy consultations.
ThePost Rehab Exercise Programme (PREP) from Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke was also shortlisted. This physiotherapy-led community programme supports stroke survivors after their statutory rehabilitation has ended, helping them maintain their progress, improve their confidence and return to everyday activities.
The Children’s Movement Clinic, involving Julie Edler and colleagues at Movement and Milestones and Foot Clinic NI, was another finalist. The service brings paediatric physiotherapy and podiatry together to provide coordinated assessments and support for children experiencing movement and musculoskeletal difficulties.
Rising stars
Belfast Trust physiotherapists also featured in the Rising Stars category. Oran Wilson was recognised for his work enabling patients receiving renal replacement therapy in intensive care to mobilise safely, while Jakob McComb was shortlisted for his contribution to specialist rheumatology physiotherapy, including his clinical reasoning and personalised approach to rehabilitation.
All of these achievements demonstrate the breadth of physiotherapy’s contribution across Northern Ireland, from innovative community services and falls prevention to acute care, research, paediatrics, ethical decision-making and the development of future practitioners. They also highlight the value of multidisciplinary working and the role physiotherapists play in improving access, patient experience and outcomes.
The full list of winners and finalists is available in the Advancing Healthcare Awards Northern Ireland 2026 Winners’ Guide.
Details of the awards are also available on the Advancing Healthcare Awards website.
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