BBC journalists win medical journalism awards in the UK

BBC journalists win medical journalism awards in the UK

MUMBAI: BBC journalists bagged four prizes at the Norwich Union Healthcare Medical Journalism Awards 2005 in the UK a few days ago. It won prizes for television and radio in both the regional and national categories.The awards are administered in conjunction with UK's Medical Journalists' Association.

BBC Radio 4's Matthew Hill took the prize in the Broadcast Radio (National) category for a report on out of hours GPs and was presented with his award at a ceremony in London.

Fellow Radio 4 reporter John Waite received a special commendation in the same category for Face the Facts.

BBC News' Medical Correspondent Fergus Walsh took the prize in the Broadcast Television (National) category for a report into polio in Nigeria.Walsh said, "I was delighted to have won, and in particular for a report on polio, which is an important issue and does not get a great deal of publicity. I hope the report went some way to raising awareness and helps in the battle to eradicate the disease."

Fellow BBC Scotland journalist Richard Wilson took first place in the Broadcast Radio (Regional) category for a report on 50 years of the Pill.

Among the other winners were,Panorama reporter Liz Bloor who also received a special commendation in the same category for her report in Secret Nurse and The Frontline Scotland team - reporter Ross McWilliam, producer Stephen Magee and researcher Claire Bothwell - were the winners in the Broadcast Television (Regional) category for a piece on the real cost of care.