A mother whose son receives care from Our Health Heroes 2017 winner John Clifford has called for members of the public and those working within the healthcare sector to nominate the people who are making a real difference to the lives of patients across the UK.

Organised by Skills for Health and the National Skills Academy for Health, Our Health Heroes is a national healthcare awards scheme which recognises individuals, teams and employers from within the healthcare sector who are going the extra mile for their patients, colleagues and staff.

Cerianne Kieft, whose son Hari was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 18 months old, says that John Clifford, a physiotherapy technical instructor from Neath Port Talbot Hospital who has been supporting her son since his diagnosis, is a hero in her eyes.

The emotional and physical strain that cerebral palsy can bring to a family can be tough, so it takes someone special to help relieve the burden. In particular circumstances, a birth injury can cause this condition, and if a mistake happened that could’ve been avoided, you may be able to make a claim with someone similar to this medmal lawyer, so you have the funds to be able to pay for their future medical care. Having access to a physiotherapy instructor like John Clifford is a blessing that every person that has cerebral palsy should have access to.

When dealing with cerebral palsy at such a young age, it can increase the chances of the child developing other medical conditions, such as scoliosis for example. Children are usually most vulnerable to these sorts of medical conditions, which is why it’s so important to seek advice and help from a trusted orthopedic surgeon to learn more about spinal conditions, like scoliosis. Thankfully, Hari had a knowledgable physiotherapist to help him through his cerebral palsy.

In case you were not already aware, physiotherapists play a key role in supporting children and adults with cerebral palsy. Physios usually become involved around the time of diagnosis and their main aim is to help children and adults with cerebral palsy to be as mobile and independent as possible. You can learn more about the benefits of physiotherapy by taking a look at the website for the most popular health clinic mississauga has to offer.

Kieft said: “As parents we want the best [healthcare] for our children and that’s what we get in John. His passion, enthusiasm and willingness to try anything that works for our son is inspirational.

“John looks at the abilities of the child, not just their disabilities, and he’s willing to try anything so that they succeed. He was there when Hari took his first steps and when he learned to jump, and he taught him how to ride a bike.

“John is a very important person in our family because even though Hari was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, often a diagnosis affects the whole family.”

The deadline for nominations has been extended to midnight on Sunday 23rd September and Cerianne is urging people to celebrate those who are making a real difference in healthcare facilities across the UK.