Aortic Dissection charity achieves dual recognition in international non-profit organization awards
Posted on 12th July 2024
Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland named "Best Aortic Dissection Patient Charity - UK" and the THINK AORTA campaign wins the "AI Excellence Award for Patient Safety Advocacy" in the 2024 International Non-Profit Organization Awards.
For the second year running, judges in the international Non-Profit Organization Awards recognised national patient charity Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland and the impact of our work. The relentless focus of the charity's leadership and volunteers on meeting the needs of patients and families has resulted in the charity being named "Best Aortic Dissection Patient Charity - UK".
Chair of Trustees, Mr. Gareth Owens, commented: "People affected by Aortic Dissection deserve the best support, care and advocacy we know how to provide. I am delighted that the judges have recognised that our charity is delivering this for patients and their families. The charity is led by patients, for patients and is privileged to enjoy strong support from all of the medical Royal Colleges and Professional Societies relevant to Aortic Dissection. These unique strengths and partnerships enable us to be the best at what we do".
The judges also bestowed a special award on the charity's life-saving THINK AORTA campaign: the "AI Excellence Award for Patient Safety Advocacy". This recognises the remarkable global impact of the THINK AORTA campaign, a partnership launched in 2018 by the national patient charity; the Royal College of Emergency Medicine; the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery; and Heart Research UK.
The 2023 National Adult Cardiac Surgery Audit credited Aortic Dissection Awareness and THINK AORTA with delivering a 68% increase in patients receiving emergency Aortic surgery in the UK between 2014-2022. The campaign has now been rolled-out on four continents and the life-saving THINK AORTA educational poster is available in the native language of 50% of the world's population.
Further evidence of the effectiveness of the charity's patient safety advocacy to improve diagnosis of Aortic Dissection was noted in the feedback from clinicians who attend the charity's patient-led THINK AORTA education sessions:
"Incredibly valuable session, thank you for sharing your story. Will definitely make me think about dissections in future & to consider CT to investigate further. Thank you again!! This is definitely one of the best lectures I've ever had. All the best!"
"Excellent, should be mandatory learning for all new doctors."
"Best teaching all year!"
- FY2 Doctors, Royal Derby Hospital
Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland continues to develop its services, partnerships and campaigns to improve the care patients and families receive, reduce the healthcare inequalities that currently exist and the unnecessary deaths that occur.
Today, the charity's 1,200+ members across the UK & Ireland are celebrating the work of their award-winning national patient charity.
