A TEAM who helps young people battling mental health issues is up for an award founded by an “inspirational” doctor who died at 34.

The Interact group based at Goodmayes Hospital has been shortlisted for this year’s Kate Granger Awards.

Interact supports youngsters from 0 to 18-years-old who have been admitted to King George Hospital in Goodmayes, Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, and Queen’s Hospital in Romford.

Staff work with families, schools and other organisations across Redbridge and Waltham Forest to make sure teenagers struggling with mental health do not go into crisis or relapse after leaving hospital.

Despite managers North East London Foundation NHS Trust (NELFT) only getting “requires improvement” in its last Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection, Interact is one of just nine organisations up for the awards nationwide.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Kate Granger has launched a campaign to encourage health workers to introduce themselves to patients (Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust /PA)

Dr Kate Granger MBE (Photo: Press Association)

Dr Kate Granger died of a rare and aggressive form of cancer in July 2016.

Before her death she inspired thousands with her #hellomynameis campaign, which fought to improve patient care across the NHS after the doctor who told her the cancer had spread failed to introduce himself.

Speaking at the time she said: "Being a patient has taught me a huge amount about being a doctor.

"Prioritising compassionate care in its rightful place alongside patient safety, under the umbrella of quality is perhaps one of the most important things I have learned."

Dr Granger bagged the support of countless celebrities and was awarded an MBE for her tireless campaigning.

The awards are now in their third year, judged by her husband Chris Pointon, close friend Dr Natalie Silvey, and chief nursing officer for NHS England Jane Cummings.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Health and Care Innovation Expo in Manchester on September 11 and 12.

Asked why Interact wants to win the award, a NELFT spokesman said: “It would be so good for the staff here and even the staff who have moved on to other posts to be recognised for their hard work.

“All too often, in the NHS, we don’t reward the efforts staff make, so even to be shortlisted is a reward in itself.

“Perhaps more than anything is the hope that other services might gain from what we’ve developed in NELFT and even more young people’s lives are improved.”

They added that Interact’s work has helped reduce local mental health A&E admissions among young people, something they claim is “unheard of” elsewhere around the country in the current climate.

For updates on the awards, search #hellomynameis, #Expo17NHS or #KGAwards17 on Twitter.