The European Respiratory Society (ERS) was presented with an award for the development of the European Lung Foundation (ELF) at this year’s European Association Awards held in Brussels on 23 February.
Announcing that ERS had won the award for ‘Most Innovative Development by an Association’, the European Association Award’s Judging Panel 2018 explained: “The judges felt this was an excellent initiative, creating a partnership between patients and medical societies. A very innovative and well thought through development.”
ELF was founded by ERS in 2000 with the overall aim of bringing together patients and the public with respiratory professionals to positively influence lung health. As well as providing information for patients and driving the public awareness campaign ‘Healthy Lungs for Life’, ELF ensures that patients are at the centre of respiratory healthcare and research, and facilitates patient involvement through all ERS activities – making sure the patient voice is heard and incorporated.
ELF Chair Isabel Saraiva noted: “It is excellent that ERS has been acknowledged for setting up the European Lung Foundation, as bridging the gap between clinicians and patients is vitally important to how effective healthcare is. ELF has gone from strength to strength and the value of patient input continues to increase for the better.”