The Trust which treats Britain’s military patients has won a national award for educating the public about the work it does with the country’s wounded heroes.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) won the Public Relations Consultants Association’s (PRCA) Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Award for the way it changed public perceptions.

The Trust has been the subject of widespread media coverage since it began treating military patients at the Queen Elizabeth and Selly Oak hospitals in 2001.

Much of the coverage was negative, but the dramatic BBC1 screening of the Wounded documentary in September 2009, which showed the treatment of two wounded soldiers, changed the situation dramatically.

Wounded, which required months of planning and filming, garnered widespread critical acclaim and, in June 2010, won the BAFTA for best single documentary.

Media coverage and public perception of the treatment of military patients improved dramatically, with strong positive stories and feedback in national newspapers.

UHB’s Director of Communications, Fiona Alexander, said she was delighted the Trust picked up such an important award: "We're proud to have been recognised for such a successful and important campaign, which has changed public perceptions of how we treat military patients.

"It is important that the public and, more importantly, the men and women serving in our armed forces have confidence in the medical care we offer for those who require acute hospital treatment. The quality of care and support our teams provide is world-class, and the documentary which Sara Hardy and her team produced for the BBC showed that to great effect.

"Most importantly, this award is a tribute to the patients, exemplified by Andy Allen and Tom Neathway in Wounded, who show such courage and determination during their treatment and rehabilitation."

The same campaign was runner-up in the Best Media Handling category at the recent Association of Healthcare Communicators and Marketing Awards.