The Golden Helix Quality Award is an award for healthcare in the U.K. It aims to promote excellence in healthcare through providing a national platform for healthcare professionals to gain recognition and reward for their achievements in the development of local healthcare services. Projects are judged on three levels: by a panel of advisors, by their peers and by a board of judges at the national judging event. The members of the judging board and advisory panel are senior healthcare professionals from a wide range of healthcare organisations including: the Academy Conference of Royal Colleges, The British Medical Association and the National Health Service Executive. The Award receives projects from a wide spectrum of health care professionals in different clinical settings. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National Health Service, there will be a special category within the Award on patient's participation. All National Health Service project entries will be automatically entered for this special category. The sponsors of the Award, Hewlett-Packard, Rabobank, Association for Quality in Healthcare and the Health Services Management Unit, University of Manchester are delighted to support and promote both the 50th Anniversary of the National Health Service and excellence in healthcare. The Award is open to any team working in a public or private health service organisation. The closing date for the Award is 31st March 1998. For further information please contact: Golden Helix Award Programme Manager Health Services Management Unit University of Manchester Devonshire House University of Precinct Centre Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL Telephone: 0161 275 3852 Fax: 0161 273 5245 To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the NHS, The Golden Helix Quality Award is hosting a one day national event on æPatient Participation' on June 29 at Harrington Hall, Kensington.. The day will combine both practical examples of developing patient participation and good practice with a national speaker. Alan Langlands, Chief Executive of the National Health Service, will chair the day. For further information please contact the above number.     Copyright © 1998, NHS