Celebrating excellence in healthcare

So far, 2015 has been a year with the NHS in the spotlight. Any year with a General Election lifts the nation’s healthcare standards into the public light, but this year more than most has centred around what the government is doing to improve healthcare. The continuous issue of seven-day-a-week services is yet to be resolved, Jeremy Hunt has a task on his hands to boost popularity ratings and staff shortages seem to be growing.
    
Nonetheless, the good news coming from the people working tirelessly to care for the nation is cause for celebration. Somewhat shunned in the media limelight, the Health Business Awards come to Grange St. Paul’s Hotel in London this December to recognise those who strive to raise standards in the NHS.
    
This year’s ceremony is to be hosted by Dr Mark Porter, a GP and medical correspondent for The Times. Porter also presents on Radio 4’s Case Notes and Inside Health. He joined The One Show on BBC One in 2011.

The Categories
Sponsored by MD Helicopters, the Air Ambulance Service Award recognises the hard work and dedication of the air ambulance sector. Last year, the Award went to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance for its educational programme obtaining a qualification in Advanced Paramedic Practise. Hospitals provided short placements to enable paramedics to gain first-hand experience of conditions and treatments that they do not necessarily come across on the air ambulance.
    
A similar Award, the Ambulance Trust of the Year, is presented to the Ambulance Trust that has embraced change and demonstrated a decrease in response times, the ability to provide treatment at the scene of an accident, and the provision of outpatient services. In 2014, West Midlands Ambulance Service took home the prize for the implementation of an ambitious £10 million ‘Make Ready’ plan throughout the region which resulted in clinicians having their vehicles refuelled, cleaned and restocked in readiness for duty, and the introduction of a range of services that drive down A&E admission rates.
    
The Hospital Building Award, sponsored by CCube Solutions, is made to the new hospital building project that raises the standard of the healthcare environment and demonstrates value for money and project management excellence. The Morgan Stanley Clinical Building at Great Ormond Street Hospital won the Award last December, as part of the hospital’s redevelopment plans. This enabled the hospital to treat up to 20 per cent more children and advance pioneering translational research programmes.

Awarding innovation
The Estates and Facilities Innovation Award, sponsored by Swallow Evacuation & Mobility Products, recognises NHS and other healthcare organisations that have developed innovative procedures for managing and maintaining healthcare facilities. The 2014 Winner was North Bristol NHS Trust for its Hospital Move project. The Trust oversaw the successful move of a major hospital from Frenchay to the Brunel building at Southmead Hospital Bristol.
    
The Clinical Commissioning Award, sponsored by Fujitsu, recognises the CCG sector, and an organisation within it which has made an impact to reduce hospital admissions through preventative practice. Last year, the Chorley and South Ribble CCG and Greater Preston CCG  partnership celebrated success in the category for its work in reducing the number of lengthy hospital stays.
    
In the Healthcare IT category, sponsored by Voice Connect, Health Business celebrates an organisation that is responsible for implementing a ground breaking IT project that demonstrates clear cost benefits to the wider NHS. Last year’s winner is University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation trust.
    
The Patient Data Award will recognise the most innovative introduction of new technology for secure  storage, retrieval and distribution of data throughout the NHS. Last year, the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust celebrated success with its Electronic Referral Information Sharing System.

Sponsored by de Poel health+care, the Healthcare Recruitment Award recognises the NHS organisation that has developed a robust recruitment policy that delivers both safety and continuity to patients. Last December, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust’s Recruitment and Resourcing Team picked up the Award for their approach to recruiting Healthcare Assistants, which resulted in the appointment of more than 120 new members of staff.
    
The Hospital Catering Award is presented to the NHS Trust that has strived to improve the standard of food and its nutritional value for the benefits of both patients and staff. The 2014 winner was Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust who now ensure that 77 per cent of it’s raw ingredient spend is now on local ingredients.
Switching to local suppliers has been cost neutral and allowed the Trust to invest £2m per year in local sustainable businesses and improved focus on patient health.

Success in collaboration
Presented to the NHS Trust which has worked with other public or private sector organisations, to engage the local community in preventative campaigns, the NHS Collaboration Award was presented to the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and Lancashire Constabulary partnership. This partnership has seen two highly trained and skilled police liaison officers being placed in the A&E department of Royal Blackburn Hospital. This forms part of a project which aims to deal with frequent attendees and better improve the individuals’ access to health and care services which best meet their needs.
    
Also sponsored by CCube Solutions, the Outstanding Achievement in Healthcare is awarded to an NHS organisation that has achieved success in its role and brought benefits to the wider NHS through the dedication and expertise of its staff. Frimley Health NHS Trust was the first Trust to be rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the new Care Quality Commission ratings. The Trust picked up the Award last year.
    
The Patient Safety Award, sponsored by Ascom, is presented to the NHS Trust which has made great strides in providing a safe hospital environment for patients, and has taken action to reduce Hospital Acquired infections and mortality rates. The team at Great Ormond Street has won accolades for its project, ‘Pursuing zero by building hospital foundations for safety’.

Patient experience
Telehealth can provide benefits to patients, healthcare providers, and to community projects. The Telehealth Award will recognise the organisation that demonstrates the most innovative use of use of information and communication technology (ICT) to deliver health services, expertise and information over distance. Stoke-on-Trent CCG’s Simple Telehealth was last years recipient in the Telehealth category. Elsewhere, the Transport & Logistics Award is celebrates the NHS Trust that has seen improvements in operational logistics. St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust won the prize last year for its sustainable, user friendly parking regime.
    
The Innovation in Mental Health Award, sponsored by Celesio, is awarded to the NHS Mental Health Trust which has made strides to improve the experience and overall care of its patients. The 2014 winner was Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust for it’s Healthy Minds scheme. Attendees of the scheme are given between-session support with homework tasks, and has seen mental wellbeing self-rating shoot up by 22 per cent compared to those not using the text service.

Other categories that will be celebrated at the Health Business Awards include: Environmental Practice; Hospital Cleaning; Sustainable Hospital; Hospital Security; Hospital Procurement; NHS Publicity Campaign; and NHS Finance.

Entries for each category are open until 5pm (BST) on Thursday 8 October, 2015. Entries must be received at the PSI Offices (226 High Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 1ET) or online via the HB Awards website on or before this date and time.

Further information
hbawards.co.uk