Health and Care Award winners announced

Seven projects and services have been named winners in the first ever Health and Care Awards for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, with one of these crowned the overall winner.

The awards ceremony took place at Nottingham University last night and involved organisations from the health, care and voluntary sector.

The category winners are:

Health inequalities award: Targeted Lung Health Check project team, NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire

The Targeted Lung Health Check service invites people aged 55 to 74 who have ever smoked to a lung health check and CT scan. The aim is to identify lung cancers and other respiratory diseases at an earlier stage when there is more chance of curative treatment.

The judges were impressed by the work carried out to make the lung health checks accessible to those communities who need them. The team works proactively to build up local knowledge of an area to identify the most convenient community locations and target specific community groups. This has resulted in an average uptake rate of 74% – the highest in the country.

Social value award: Family Mentor Service, Small steps Big Changes

Family Mentors are a highly trained paid peer workforce that deliver an evidence-based programme of child development and preventative health support to parents of 0—4-year-olds. The judges felt this was an outstanding entry with real evidence of outcomes and impact. Knowing the struggles many families face today, this approach is making a meaningful difference and embodies the essence of the category.

Equity award: The BAME wig project, Nottingham University Hospitals Trust

This Nottingham University Hospitals Trust project worked with people with lived experience to tackle an issue that impacted on the dignity of BAME patients. The

judges applauded the positive outcomes and also the way the team has extended the project to cater for all patients and staff suffering from alopecia.

Value for money award: Promoting Independence Service, Bassetlaw Action Centre

This service, provided by Bassetlaw Action Centre, offers practical interventions to help people regain their independence following a hospital stay. The judges commended the contribution the service makes to saving around £680,000 to the healthcare system every year in reduced hospital bed days.

Lord-Lieutenant’s partnership award: Veteran Care Through Custody, Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust

The Veteran Care through Custody project offers specialist healthcare and holistic wraparound services to veterans in prison. The judges were impressed by this unique partnership between the Offender Health team at Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust and the veteran’s charity Care after Combat which has so far transformed the lives of almost 500 veterans in Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands.

Best outcome award: One version of the truth data, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council and NHS

This multi-disciplinary project has developed a ‘one version of the truth’ hospital discharge dataset agreed by all partners. This supports collaboration across the wards and the multi-disciplinary Transfer of Care Hubs in managing the timely, safe and appropriate discharge of older people from hospital. This has supported better practice and decision-making and is helping more people to go directly home, in a shorter time.

Prevention award: Bassetlaw Food Insecurity Network, Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service

This entry demonstrated a partnership approach to establish food hubs, cooking classes, social eating events and community allotments to tackle isolation and promote mental wellbeing and address food insecurity. The work has been developed with the local community to understand the needs of residents and is being promoted to other areas as an example of best practice.

One entry, Veteran Care Through Custody, has been crowned the overall winner thanks to its innovative partnership approach and the incredible impact the project has had on 500 veterans living locally.

Dr Jane Jones, from Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust, works in the Veteran Care Through Custody Team. She said: “We work with military veterans in prison, military veterans who have fallen on hard times. We’re there to support them and make sure that when they reintegrate back into the community, it’s successful in the way that coming out of the forces wasn’t for them.

Phil Loader, from Care after Combat, said: “It’s been an honour to work alongside the military care through custody team. Their dedication is an inspiration to all of us and we work so well together, we understand each other’s goals – all for the benefit of the veterans that we are helping, week in, week out. The dedication of the NHS team cannot be quantified.

“To see a veteran come back to the office weeks down the line and say, ‘without you, I wouldn’t be standing here now’, it means everything, just to see that – you can’t get a better feeling than someone saying thank you for saving them.”

Kathy McLean, Chair of the Integrated Care Board, said: “Congratulations to all our winners, who have demonstrated that partnership working is having a genuine impact on the people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. I’ve been blown away by the quality of entries we’ve received and it’s been fascinating to speak to so many people who are doing excellent work to help improve health and care for local people.”

Sir John Peace CVO, Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire said: “I am impressed and reassured that in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire we have so many skilled people committed to working together to ensure the best outcomes for communities and individuals. I am proud of all who, through these Awards have been able to demonstrate their excellent work. Thank you.”

ENDS

For more information contact julie.cuthbert2@nhs.net or 07901 513299

Kathy McLean, Chair of the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board reflects on the NHS at 75 

On 5 July we will celebrate the 75th birthday of our NHS and I believe this is the ideal time to reflect on the remarkable achievements of our past. During my career, I have had the privilege of witnessing first-hand the transformative power of the NHS in improving the health and well-being of our communities.

Since its inception in 1948, the NHS has been the cornerstone of healthcare in the UK. It has provided universal access to high-quality care, eliminating any concerns about money when thinking about your health. This achievement alone is a testament to the values of compassion, equality and inclusivity that define the NHS. In a time where there are concerns about the cost of living. Our NHS and its founding principle of access free at the point of need are a huge comfort and support to the most vulnerable in our society.

Over the years, the NHS has demonstrated its resilience, adapting to changes in our society and advancing medical knowledge. From pioneering breakthrough treatments and surgical techniques to introducing ground-breaking vaccination programmes, the NHS has consistently pushed the boundaries of medical innovation. In 1948 thousands of Polio patients were sealed up in iron-lungs in our hospitals up and down the land. In 2023 Polio is eradicated and those hospitals might be using that space to treat people with cancer using drugs which reprogramme themselves according to each patient’s immune system.

Countless lives have been saved and the quality of life for millions has improved, thanks to the dedication, expertise and innovation of NHS staff.

One of the key strengths of the NHS lies in its ability to foster collaboration and integration across health and care. As an Integrated Care Board chair, I have witnessed the power of this collaborative approach. By bringing together hospitals, primary care providers, community services, social care, public health, the voluntary sector and other stakeholders, the Integrated Care System model has enabled us to deliver more co-ordinated and person-centred care to local people.

The NHS’s commitment to breaking down silos and promoting a culture of shared responsibility has allowed us to tackle complex health challenges more effectively, leading to improved outcomes and better experiences for people.

As we celebrate the NHS’s past, this is also a good time to look ahead to a future filled with possibilities and challenges. We are developing our NHS Joint Forward Plan which will set out how local NHS services will recover and be made sustainable following the pandemic. We will work with our partners to follow a joint ambition to allow every person in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to enjoy their best possible health and wellbeing.

As we move forward, it is essential that we promote prevention and well-being. The NHS has made great strides in recent years in prioritising public health initiatives, empowering people to take control of their health and addressing health inequalities. By investing in preventative measures such as healthy lifestyles or early detection of disease, as recommended by the Hewitt Review, we can reduce the burden of illness and improve overall population health.

As we celebrate 75 years of the NHS, we pay tribute to the tireless efforts of the dedicated professionals who have contributed to its success. Looking ahead, we must embrace innovation, collaboration, and preventative approaches to shape the future of healthcare in the UK. Together, we can ensure that the NHS continues to thrive for the next 75 years and beyond, delivering compassionate, equitable and high-quality care to all who rely on its services. I am filled with pride and optimism for the future, knowing that we have the collective determination and expertise to shape a healthcare system that meets the evolving needs of our society.

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire NHS eliminate longest backlogs in elective care

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire NHS staff have now virtually eliminated the longest waits for scans, checks, surgical procedures and other routine treatment – the first milestone in the most ambitious catch-up plan in health service history.

Latest data, released on 9 August 2022, shows the local NHS has made significant progress in tackling the backlog of elective patients, particularly prioritising those who have been waiting the longest.

Amanda Sullivan, Chief Executive of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board, said: “Delivering this target has only been possible thanks to the hard work of staff across the Integrated Care System. We can be proud of these achievements which have been made possible by making effective use of all available capacity including through partnership with providers, and through building new relationships and mutual aid arrangements across systems to move patients around where appropriate.

“This recovery is even more remarkable in light of the ongoing pressures across the health service, particularly in urgent and emergency care. It has also been delivered despite much higher than predicted levels of covid-19. We are now focusing our efforts on achieving the next target of the Elective Recovery Plan, with staff continuing their remarkable work to ensure all 78-week waits are eliminated by April 2023.”

The number of patients who have waited two years or more in acute hospitals in the Midlands has fallen by over 89 percent (a reduction of 6,415 patients) since a peak of 7,183 in January 2022.

The NHS Elective Recovery Plan set the ambitious target of eliminating two year waits by July 2022, except in cases where patients choose to wait longer or require treatment in certain specialities and the local NHS is proud of this achievement.

This shows the local NHS is using the extra investment the government has provided at part of the Elective recovery Plan to deliver for patients by eliminating two year waits.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have shared details of their progress on their websites.

NHS staff will – as always – go above and beyond to provide expert treatment to everyone who needs it and particularly those who have been waiting the longest. It is crucial that people concerned about their health are able to come forward for help and it is important that the public talk to their GP if they have concerns.

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s Covid-19 Vaccination Programme wins regional awards

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s Covid-19 Vaccination Programme has been praised for its contribution to keeping the public safe at an award ceremony thanking vaccination teams.

The Nottingham and Nottinghamshire programme won two awards at the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme Reward and Recognition Event held by NHS Midlands on Tuesday 12 July.

The Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Covid-19 Vaccination Centres and Roving Service won the Best Collaboration Award for its work to deliver the vaccine into communities through vans, buses, pop-up clinics and door-to-door vaccines. The roving service has delivered more than 6,000 vaccines in the community and this has been achieved through collaboration with Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council as well as partners across the city and county.

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s work to help educate the public on the Covid-19 vaccine through special Q&A clinics called ‘Let’s Talk Vaccination’ won The Community Engagement Award. In January 2022, Vaccination Q&A clinics were developed to create a safe space for people to talk about the Covid-19 vaccination with experts and explore their choices with the aim of increasing vaccination uptake. In the last three months (April-June) the team has held 43 successful clinics and reached over 1,400 citizens.

The hard work of Nottingham vaccinator Andrea Wallace was specifically praised at the ceremony. Andrea, a vaccinator at the Haydn Road Vaccination Site, was shortlisted in the Vaccinator of the Year category for her progression from a volunteer at the start of the pandemic to a vaccinator.

Shantell Miles, Lead Nurse at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust and Operations Director of the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, praised everyone involved in the programme for their hard work.

She said: “This programme in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire would be nothing without all the exceptional teams and individuals who have made it so successful. I am so pleased that the hard work of our programme has been recognised at this event, specifically in tackling inequalities.

“I would like to personally thank everyone involved in the vaccination programme in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire for their incredible work over the last two years. The collaboration across the local healthcare system has played an important part in its success so I would like to thank all our partners in the Integrated Care System including local authorities, the community and voluntary sector and the public. It has been an exceptional effort by everyone involved and you have all played an important part in providing a strong line of defence against Covid-19.”

More than 2.3 million vaccinations have been administered in the city and county through vaccination centres, GP surgeries, community pharmacies and out in the community using vaccination buses, vans, and pop-up clinics.  The public can still book or walk in for a life-saving Covid-19 vaccine, you can find out more information on how to book on the NHS website.

Pensioner praises support following discharge from hospital

A pensioner in Nottinghamshire has praised the ‘excellent’ care she received following a fall at home.

76 year old Frances Latty, from East Bridgford, was standing on a stool trying to change a lightbulb when she fell and suffered a stress fracture in her spine.

She didn’t realise the damage she had done and continued walking round for three days after her fall before seeking medical attention. She was then admitted to hospital at the end of January. 

When Frances was discharged from hospital two and a half weeks later, she received support from the Home First Response Service (HFRS) – a short-term rapid response service which can help if you need social care support to remain at home. HFRS also help people get home from hospital quickly, in turn, freeing up space in busy hospitals.

This service is contracted by the Nottinghamshire County Council from TuVida, to provide care and support for people who are medically fit to return home.

Carers went in to support Frances with showering, dressing, shopping, support with medication and meal and drink preparation.

The County Council’s reablement team also helped Frances with equipment and support to help her return to independence. They completed a kitchen assessment to see if she could manage to safely make a hot drink and then cook for herself.  They also worked with her to find out what her goals were. One of the things Frances wanted to do was to bath herself, so the team arranged for her to have a bath seat.

Frances said: “The bath seat made a big difference, and I can bath myself now. It’s lovely to be surrounded by soapy water.”

Frances also has a walker and grab handles around the home. One of her first visits out of her home was to the hairdresser.

She added: “The support I’ve had has been excellent. We phased it out as I’m getting more independent. Sharon was very instructive in how to cope with things. I’ve got the grab handles around the home and a walker to get about.

“They’ve all been so, absolutely, lovely – the carers, Sharon, everybody. I cannot stress enough how much help everybody’s given me.

“I can put my jeans on myself now. It’s amazing, I just think ‘I couldn’t do that a week ago.’ My brothers remarked when they saw me a couple a weeks ago – how amazed they were at the difference in my mobility and ability to care for myself.”

More than 1,000 patients in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire treated with specialist drugs to reduce risk of serious illness from Covid-19

More than 1,000 people at the highest risk of becoming unwell with Covid-19 have been treated at a specialist unit which is helping to treat people before they become seriously unwell.

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System (ICS) has a Covid Medicines Delivery Unit (CMDU) based at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust and an additional infusion centre at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust. These are Covid-secure and away from other areas of hospitals. The CMDU works seven days a week to provide treatment as soon as possible.

The unit provides high-risk patients who have received a positive Covid test with antiviral medications to help reduce the risk of them becoming seriously unwell and being admitted to hospital.

Through integrated system working between primary care and the acute hospitals, patients at high risk are flagged up on a shared system and are contacted to come forward for treatment.

Local patient, Sophia, who has Multiple Sclerosis, spoke about her experience.

She said: “The atmosphere that the team have created was liken to a family living room that I as a patient was joining, with jokes and laughter about who’s turn it was to make the tea. This was all alongside getting patients in, checked, canulated, monitored, answering questions and offering reassurance too. I can’t thank the team enough.”

Dr Jeremy Lewis, Consultant in Acute Medicine and Chief Clinical Information Officer at NUH, added: “We set up the CMDU at NUH in December as the Omicron wave was at its peak and it has been running ever since. The service helps to give patients at the highest risk from death and becoming unwell access to treatments to help them get better and reduce their risk of becoming seriously unwell.

“The clinic has helped more than a thousand patients and the antiviral drugs, paired with vaccination, means we are collectively reducing the risk of long covid as well as admissions among our most vulnerable patients.”

Depending on their medical history, a patient may either have tablets (Paxlovid) delivered to their home or have a drip (Sotrovimab) given at the infusion centre.

Some of the patients at risk include cancer patients, people receiving radiotherapy or chemotherapy, immunocompromised patients, patients with kidney or liver disease or those on treatment for inflammatory problems like rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease.

Find out more here.