A consultant clinical psychologist at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust has been shortlisted for The Caroline Flack Mental Health Hero award
The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Awards, in partnership with NHS Charities Together, celebrates our healthcare heroes from the frontline NHS staff to the ordinary people who go above and beyond.
Broadcast on Channel 4 and produced by Thames (a Fremantle label), the awards are sponsored by The National Lottery.
Winners will be announced at a star-studded ceremony hosted by Davina McCall and screened on Channel 4 on Sunday September 18th.
Dr Azza is a consultant clinical psychologist who works in the allergy clinic at Wythenshawe Hospital for Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), and provides mental health support to people with severe allergies.
She was nominated by Beth McKenzie who suffers from a life-threatening peanut allergy and became virtually housebound after developing severe anxiety over fears she might suffer an allergic reaction.
Beth’s life has been transformed thanks to Clinical Psychologist Dr Azza Aglan, who, since setting up a special unit at the Allergy Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester six years ago, has helped transform the lives of 150 patients.
Beth said: “Before I met Azza, I was unable to eat outside of my house for the fear that I would have an allergic reaction. I stopped going out, I stopped eating the food my family had made me – I stopped living. I couldn’t even trust myself.”
She says of her life now: “I am living the life I always dreamed of and I owe a lot of that to Azza. I honestly don’t know what I’d have done without her. It is so incredibly important that the work she does is recognised. I hope people hear what she has done and it inspires other medical professionals to do the same by setting up designated psychology services in allergy departments.”
Dr Aglan is currently one of the only clinical psychologists attached to an adult allergy clinic in the country. The service is a partnership between Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Dr Aglan said: “Increasing evidence highlight the complex interaction between physical and mental health. Mental health difficulties that people with long-term physical health conditions experience impact on recovery and quality of life. We have the privilege of supporting people on their journey. There is no health without mental health.”
