Success for the AHSN Network at the HSJ Awards 2021

The AHSN Network celebrated a win at the prestigious HSJ Awards ceremony in London on 18 November.

The AHSN Network was successful in the patient safety category for the significant support Patient Safety Collaboratives and AHSNs provided to implement COVID Oximetry @home and virtual wards. The programme was delivered in partnership with NHS England and NHS Improvement, NHS Digital and NHSX, and helped thousands of people most at risk from COVID-19 to be safely supported at home, through remote self-monitoring of their oxygen saturation levels.

The judges said, “This was an outstanding example of a true system wide collaboration. This project not only touched the UK but positively impacted people’s lives across the world. The outcomes were positively overwhelming in relation to lives saved, bed day reduction and early admissions which improved mortality and morbidity rates. It was clear that this approach contributed heavily to the prevention of the NHS becoming overwhelmed during the pandemic. The patient testimonial demonstrated the real impact to individuals and added value to the presentation coupled with the passion and authenticity of the presenters.”

Cheryl Crocker, AHSN Network Patient Safety Director, said, “We entered this award to showcase the extraordinary achievement of multiple partners, supported by regional Patient Safety Collaboratives, who came together to respond to the pandemic and keep patients safe. This national programme is estimated to have benefitted in excess of 40,000 people.”

Natasha Swinscoe, Chief Officer at West of England AHSN and national patient safety lead for the AHSN Network said, “We are delighted to receive this award on behalf of all our partners, frontline staff and patients.

“The AHSN Network was proud to lead the rapid implementation of the COVID Oximetry @home and COVID virtual ward programmes during the coronavirus pandemic. Success would not have been possible without our partners NHSX, NHS Digital and sponsors NHS England and NHS Improvement, who fully supported this innovative and novel pathway of care.

“This award recognises collaborative working across health and care systems and we share this with NHS England and NHS Improvement, particularly the NHS@home team, regional and local CCG teams, NHSX, NHS Digital, our Patient Safety Collaboratives and clinical leads.

“Learning from this innovative pathway has led to the development of other pathways such as a blood pressure at home initiative, part of our cardiovascular disease management portfolio of programmes in the AHSN Network.”

The Innovation Agency, the AHSN for the North West Coast, also celebrated a win in the provider collaboration of the year category. The award is for the AHSN’s work on an Atrial Fibrillation (AF) ambassador programme where trained volunteers work in their local communities to identify people who may have AF, an irregular heartbeat which can lead to a life-threatening stroke.

Phil Jennings, Chief Executive of the Innovation Agency, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and richly deserved. It’s great to see this team who have worked relentlessly often in their own time to receive recognition – well done!”