A regional daily  health reporter has had his writing talents recognised at an awards ceremony which honours the best in medical journalism.

Warren Manger, a journalist on the Coventry Telegraph for over four years, was presented with the accolade at the Medical Journalists Association’s winter awards on Wednesday 25 January at the Kings Fund in London.

He won the Financing Healthcare award for an article he wrote called ‘500 still waiting for delayed operations.’

The article investigated the fall-out from a controversial ‘Fast, Slow, Stop’ policy pursued by the primary care trust NHS Warwickshire between November 2010 and March 31, 2011.

The money saving scheme involved stopping NHS funding for some treatments were there was no clinical evidence it worked, such as acupuncture.

It also postponed 2,500 operations such as hip and knee replacements, cataract removals and tonsillectomies.

In August Warren discovered 500 patients were still waiting for their delayed operations with one patient forced to wait so long for his operation he developed a bone softening disorder that prevented him having his knee replacement.

He was one of only two regional journalists nominated for the awards and was also commended in the investigative reporting/scoop in consumer print or online category.

Warren Manger receives his award from Robin Park of Barclays

Said Warren: “Just being shortlisted was a tremendous honour as I was up against such strong competition from reporters on the nationals, The Lancet and Reuters.

“Receiving the award was a fantastic surprise, but what really struck me was how pleased everyone was to see a regional reporter win.

“They were really enthusiastic about the importance of good local journalism.”

There were a total of eight categories in the awards which covered print, online and broadcast sectors.

Warren received a received a cheque for £500 and an inscribed certificate.

The MJA’s Winter Awards are made on the basis of a single piece of submitted work, selected by a panel of experts.