Double celebration for Innovation Agency teams shortlisted in 2021 HSJ Awards

24 Aug 2021 01:58 PM

Two projects run by the Innovation Agency are in the running for a top award after emerging as favourites in the HSJ Awards 2021.

Work to reduce the incidence of asthma in one area of Merseyside and a second to identify irregular heartbeats to prevent strokes have both been shortlisted as part of the awards, which recognise outstanding contribution to healthcare.

Innovation Agency Chief Executive Dr Phil Jennings yesterday said:

“Our work to help manage asthma for patients in Knowsley, alongside Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Liverpool University Hospitals and Primary Care Knowsley, is making a real difference.

“Meanwhile our Patient and Public Involvement Team have worked phenomenally hard to spread the word about atrial fibrillation in different communities. By involving patients, the public and other organisations this collaborative work has really helped increase awareness of the condition and encouraged more people to take steps to avoid a stroke.”

Atrial Fibrillation Ambassadors in the Community has been nominated in the HSJ’s Provider Collaboration of the Year.

Proactive management of asthma in primary care for patients in Knowsley (pictured left) has been nominated in the HSJ’s Primary Care Innovation of the Year. The project was also shortlisted in the HSJ’s Patient Safety Awards, announced earlier this summer.

The judging panel was once again made up of a diverse range of highly influential and respected figures within the healthcare community, including Sir Bruce Keogh (Chair, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s FT); Marie Gabriel CBE (Chair, NHS Race and Health Observatory); and former HSJ Trust of the Year winners Ann Marr OBE (Chief Executive, St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals Trust) and Richard Mitchell (Chief Executive, Sherwood Forest Hospitals FT).

Following the intense and in-depth judging process, the Innovation Agency projects were shortlisted, ahead of the official awards ceremony to be held later this year (18 November).

HSJ editor Alistair McLellan, yesterday commented:
 

“On behalf of all my colleagues, I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Innovation Agency on being nominated in this year’s HSJ Awards. The applications we receive always present our panel of judges with a very difficult task as the standard is unfailingly high and the breadth of innovation and passion for patient care is always so inspiring.

“This year, we really have been overwhelmed with the level of entries, particularly when set against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and the huge challenges faced by our health and social care workforce.

“We are therefore looking forward to welcoming all our finalists to the live ceremony in November and joining us in celebrating their incredible achievements and commitment to excellence.”

There is a full list of nominees for the HSJ Awards 2021 which includes the two Innovation Agency nominations.

The selected winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at Evolution, London on 18 November 2021