Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, 27 extraordinary people from across the UK are being recognised with the coveted British Citizen Award. One of them is Paul Browning, from Loughborough, Leicestershire. Due to the current lockdown, the usual grand medal presentation ceremony at The Palace of Westminster is unable to take place. For only the second time in its history, Paul and the remaining 26 medalists received their BCA medals by courier, together with video messages of congratulations together with an invitation to the House of Lords at a date yet to be determined, when it is safe to do so.
The British Citizen Award (BCA), in association with One-Stop, is now in its sixth year and recognises exceptional people who positively impact their communities. Paul Browning is honoured with a BCAh for Services to Healthcare.
Paul has been involved with clinical sciences for over 20 years, with the last seven being focused on wound care. He has made over 12 publications in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences, and lectured clinicians globally in wound care.
Through prior engagement with Parliament from his academic studies, Paul applied his learnings into practice when he became aware of the huge variation in wound care and cost-saving initiatives which did not put the patient first. He found this to be ethically unacceptable and contacted peers - most notably Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - who supported the issues around patient care. Paul realised that we needed a National strategy to address the huge costs and variations in wound care.
Several written questions in the House of Lords were tabled culminating in securing an oral debate in 2017, resulting in the Government creating a National Wound Strategy. This programme continues to support improvements in patient care. Chronic wound care costs the NHS in England over £8bn a year. With Paul identifying the variation in care, researching political support, using the parliamentary processes to secure awareness and debate, then working with a UK trade association, this has changed national policy, proving one person can make the difference.
Jonny McQuarrie, Managing Director from BCA partner One Stop said: “Each time a new group of medalists are selected it reminds us of how great the people of this nation are. We serve many communities up and down the country through the One Stop convenience stores, and these particular individuals being recognised now, especially at this time of extraordinary circumstance, reflects all that is good about community spirit. It’s a privilege to play a small part in helping them to be recognised. Our congratulations go to all 27 honourees”.
Dame Mary Perkins, who would have usually presented Paul with his medal personally, said: “British Citizen Award recipients are very special people. They all go above and beyond for others with selfless acts of
kindness and community spirit with no thought or expectation of praise or reward. These awards are a great opportunity to shine a light on their good works and give them the recognition they so thoroughly deserve. They are the nation's true unsung heroes and, in a year that has been so very challenging for everyone, their contributions have been even more valuable than ever. I look forward to seeing all the recipients recognised in person as soon as is possible.”
Messages of support were sent via video from TV personalities Michael Underwood, Matt Allwright, pop superstar Kimberly Walsh of the Pussycat Dolls, and popular comedian, actor and Patron of the BCA Bradley Walsh. Messages of congratulations were also sent by the wider sponsor community including from representatives of Experian, Places for People and Objective HR who have all continued to support the BCA throughout the pandemic.
The British Citizen Award was established in 2015, to recognise exceptional individuals who work tirelessly and selflessly making a positive impact on society. The BCA recognises true pillars of the community, whose divergent endeavours deserve honouring, but might otherwise likely be overlooked.
Dubbed the People’s Honours, each Medal bears the words ‘For the Good of the Country’ and are presented to only a small number of exceptional individuals twice annually. The British Citizen Award is widely viewed as the nation’s way of recognising extraordinary, everyday people for exceptional endeavor and are truly representative of today’s multicultural Britain
