Dr Jim Kelly receives Prestigious President’s Medal for outstanding service to Older People
28/05/2012
Dr Jim Kelly, a Consultant Geriatrician who is based at the Erne Hospital, Enniskillen has been awarded the prestigious British Geriatrics Society (BGS) President’s medal. This medal is awarded to an individual member who has made an outstanding contribution to the aims of the BGS, which is to promote the health and healthcare of older people.
Chairman of the Western Trust, Gerard Guckian congratulating Dr Kelly said: “Having worked with Jim for many years, I am delighted that he has won this award that recognises his strong commitment to the development and delivery of care to older people.
He added: “Jim is an expert in the care of older people and has over 24 years’ experience in the field. He is presently playing a leading role as clinical lead for the South West Acute Hospital, a new role that reflects his drive to ensure health and social care services in the West are at the forefront of developing and delivering excellence for all patients and in particular older people.”
Alan Corry Finn, Director of Primary Care and Older Peoples Services, Western Trust said: “Jim is a highly valued clinician within our older peoples services team and I am absolutely delighted that his expertise has been so appropriately recognised by this honour. This award is highly regarded by Health and Social Care and is a true demonstration of Jim’s specialist experience, knowledge, leadership and skills.”
Professor Finbarr Martin, President of the BGS commented: ‘I wasdelighted to present this medal to Dr Kelly. He joins a unique group of 35 recipients over the last 20 years who have done outstanding work not only to the British Geriatrics Society to but society in general. His work represents years of dedication and commitment to improve the care of older people in his local area.”
The Society is a professional association of doctors practising geriatric medicine. The Presidents Medal was inaugurated in 1992 by Dr JLC Dall, and is granted at the discretion of the serving president Professor Finbarr Martin to members of the Society who have been unable to hold high office in the Society but have been recognised as achieving outstanding service to the Society.
Appointed as a consultant geriatrician at the Erne Hospital in 1998, and Clinical Lead for the South West Acute Hospital project, Dr Kelly said it is an incredible honour to have been awarded the British Geriatrics Society President's Medal. He added: "The fantastic staff I work with at the Erne Hospital have been instrumental in the development of services and I would like to pay tribute to their hard work and dedication. Staff at the Erne Hospital are currently planning for the safe and smooth transition of our patients to the new state-of-the-art South West Acute Hospital and this award has given us an added boost to ensure that we continue to deliver high quality care to our patients.”