Past winners of the Occupational Therapist of the Year Award, 2002-2004
2004
Anna Hanson from Walton Hospital, Chesterfield, was nominated by her carer, Alan Meadows “because she restored my wife to me for possibly the most important period of our lives”. She ensured that he was actively involved in the care of his sick wife when she was in hospital, and even facilitated her being able to return to their home for a few precious weeks before she tragically died. Alan cannot express the gratitude he feels in allowing him and his wife that special time together and genuinely believes that without Anna’s help it simply would not have been possible.
2003
Mayen Konarski was the founder of an innovative organisation called MKOTS, based in Gloucestershire, that specialises in working with adults and children with Sensory Integration and Motor Planning Disorders. The pioneering work that Mayen carries out focuses primarily on enabling children to lead an independent and good quality of life - values shared by both Stannah and the College of Occupational Therapists. Mayen comments, "Whilst illnesses such as Dyspraxia are becoming increasingly recognised, the sensory disorders in general are often misunderstood or their impact on emotional, social and academic development underestimated. Awards such as these are an excellent opportunity to educate people on what Occupational Therapists do and I so thrilled to have been chosen as the winner."
2002
Patrick Carroll nominated by someone with MS who worked as a pharmacist at Boots the Chemist. He was desperate to continue working but his condition was making it more and more difficult. Patrick took up the fight on his client's behalf and convinced Boots in Fareham, Hampshire to rearrange its store layout so that his client could continue to function as a practicing pharmacist. It entailed ensuring the aisles were wide enough for the chap's wheelchair and that the drugs were on shelves low enough for him to reach so he didn't have to keep asking colleagues to get things down for him.
