The "Best Ophthalmology Team" award at the recent 2018/19 Ophthalmology Honours programme was presented to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust’s (UHB) Uveitis Service, for “building a holistic, personalised service for patients with sight-threatening inflammation.”

The Ophthalmology Honours programme is facilitated by Bayer and supported by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and Visionary.

It was established to recognise the outstanding work being carried out by multi-disciplinary teams in ophthalmology throughout the UK and identify exceptional initiatives and clinical excellence.

The programme also allows the ophthalmology community to share their best practices, so that creative ideas and practical solutions can be discussed and implemented more widely, with the ultimate aim of improving the care and experience of patients.

Alastair Denniston, Consultant Ophthalmologist (Uveitis and Medical Retina) at UHB, Hon Professor at the University of Birmingham and Uveitis Service team lead, attended the ceremony to collect the award with his colleagues. He said: “The team are really thrilled to have had their hard work recognised in this way and my thanks go to them all and to the Trust for the leadership, management and support provided.”

Robert Carmichael, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Inflammatory Eye Disease/Intravitreal Injections, added that “the award not only highlights the exemplary care we give to our patients, but the team exemplifies the values set by UHB.'

Amy Price, Ophthalmology Research Nurse, said: “We are delighted that our Uveitis Service has been recognised for the ‘Best Ophthalmology Team’ award. 

“Every day is exciting when you work with such a dynamic and motivated team, who share the vision of encouraging patient involvement in delivering great clinical care and research.”

Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye, can lead to blindness and can have many causes, including eye injury and inflammatory diseases.