Jessica Wilkinson, the founder of the DLG, was delighted to be recognised at the Health and Social Care Awards 2004.

Jessica was entered for the awards due to the tremendous work she has done in setting up and running the DLG in her spare time, as well as for dramatically improving her Trust's DXA service.

Jessica set up the DLG in September 2003 after taking on the management of the DXA service at the Queen Elizabeth NHS Trust. Since her appointment, she has updated the service, overseen the installation of cutting-edge equipment, and due to increased funding, has slashed the waiting list from 14 months to 2 weeks.

DXA is still a relatively specialised field, and Jessica recognised that many DXA operators felt isolated in their units. The DLG provides these operators with a forum for discussion and information sharing, and this website is now used around the world.

In spite of a record number of entries this year, Jessica reached the London regional finals in the 'Allied Health Professional Outstanding Achiever of the Year Award'.

Jessica's work in DXA was highly commended. She recieved a certificate signed by Sir Nigel Crisp, the DOH and NHS Chief Executive, who said, 'The standard of applications was very high and I would like to extend my congratulations to you and the colleagues involved in your project, on your achievement of being one of the top 3 in your category in your region'.

Jessica says 'It is a great honour to be recognised by the Department of Health Awards. I set up the DLG to bring together the many professional backgrounds involved in DXA scanning. My work has taught me a great deal, and I am glad that others are learning from my newsletters and website. I get a great sense of satisfaction when members tell me how the content of my newsletters have changed their practice. I hope that the DLG will continue to grow and improve in the future.'

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Of course, Jessica would not be where she is today without the help and support of so many individuals and organisations. She especially singled out her manager, Mark Judge, and consultant Rheumatologist, Louise Dolan, for their unlimited help and backing. Jessica would also like to thank the University of Derby, the Society of Radiographers, the National Osteoporosis Society and the International Society for Clinical Densitometry for their continuing support, as well as all of the commercial companies and the other organisations working with the DLG.

The greatest thanks of all go to Mohammed Darwish, a colleague, who has given numerous hours of extremely hard work to produce this website at the outset, and for his continuing support and advice as Jessica has taken on the huge and ongoing task of editing and updating the website.

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Health And Social Care Awards Website