Dr Paul Shenton a community GP from Maswell Park Health Centre in Hounslow has been awarded a Community Star Award by Harrow Churches Housing Association (HCHA). Dr Shenton has been recognised for his 30 years of dedicated service to tenants living at HCHA’s Dashwood Court sheltered scheme for older people.
Dr Shenton holds a small surgery in the scheme every Monday morning, and assisted by the HCHA Scheme Manger is able to provide timely interventions such as health checks, write out prescriptions, and conduct home visits which is particularly helpful for some of the less mobile residents.
Dr Paul Shenton (left) receives HCHA Community Star Award from Christopher Holley and Dashwood Ct tenants
Christopher Holley, Chief Executive of Harrow Churches Housing Association (HCHA) presenting the award said, ‘I’m pleased to honour Dr Paul Shenton, our local GP, with an HCHA Community Star Award. We recognise and treasure his 30 years of commitment to the health of our residents living at Dashwood Court sheltered scheme for older people. HCHA enables people to live independently for longer in their homes, in fact 20% of our tenants are aged over 80. This service is a great example of how primary care and housing can work together to deliver preventative health care, helping people to avoid acute care and unnecessary emergency hospital admissions and support people to remain in their own homes for longer.’
Upon receiving the award Dr Shenton said, ‘It was very unexpected, I’ve never received any award in 34 years of GP practice! As their GP I think they value continuity of care. Places like Dashwood Court are few and far between, the success of the place is due to the activities that go on there, it’s a friendly welcoming place, every time I go there are always people socialising and chatting. Loneliness in elderly people is a real issue and heart breaking when it happens and places like Dashwood Court mitigate against that. ‘
Dashwood Ct resident Alan (pictured at top) said, ‘It is a privilege to have Dr Shenton come to visit and check on me, I am very lucky.’