THE first annual Healthcare Champions Awards to recognise outstanding work with patients living with the debilitating disease rheumatoid arthritis were presented at the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday. Suzanne Morris, clinical nurse specialist in rheumatology at Withybush Hospital, was among those to receive an award from the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS). Suzanne received her award from the Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP, NRAS, Patron and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, at a ceremony hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Inflammatory Arthritis. It is the first time that health professionals working in the area of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been nominated for awards by the patients themselves. After hearing about the award, Suzanne said that she was always willing to help patients in any way possible. She described RA as, "an incredibly painful and disabling disease which can affect people of all ages, including children. It affects mainly the joints, but can impact on other organs. The condition can shorten life expectancy and 42 per cent of RA patients are registered disabled within three years of diagnosis." Suzanne stressed that she is "just one member" of an excellent and committed multidisciplinary team working with consultant rheumatologist, Dr. Amanda Coulson. Two of the patients who nominated Suzanne, Hilary Daye from Haverfordwest and Jean Bailey-Dering from Saundersfoot, travelled with her to Westminster. Hilary said: "I'm delighted that Suzanne has received a Healthcare Champions Award. She has provided me with fantastic support and advice and has been there to help me to live with this difficult disease." On hearing their news, Nick Ainger MP (South Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen West) invited the three to join him for lunch in the Members' Dining Room. Stephen Crabb MP (Pembrokeshire Preseli), meanwhile, arranged tickets for a trip to the Visitors' Gallery. Commenting on Suzanne's award, Stephen said: "I am delighted to hear that a nurse from Withybush has been recognised in this way. It is a reflection of the hard work that she and many of her colleagues put in on a daily basis, usually with very little public recognition." Ailsa Bosworth, chief executive and founder of NRAS, commented: "The Healthcare Champions Awards recognise the skill, expertise and compassion of rheumatology health professionals across the UK. This is particularly important at a time when many of the RA services are under threat from lack of funding. Rheumatoid arthritis does not get the priority it should because people confuse it with osteoarthritis, a totally different condition which many people get as they become older. RA is a serious autoimmune chronic disease and people who suffer from it require ongoing care." Her beliefs were echoed by the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Inflammatory Arthritis, David Amess MP, who said: "We are delighted to congratulate the first winners of these awards and will do everything we can as a cross-party group of MPs and peers to support and highlight the needs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis".