We are celebrating after it has been announced that our work across patient safety has been nominated for Best Use of Integrated Care and Partnership Working in Patient Safety Award at this year’s HSJ Awards.

The awards, which recognise outstanding contributions to healthcare, shortlisted the Trust for work across its innovative new service known as the COVID Virtual Ward (CVW) which it introduced in response to the Covid pandemic.

The CVW enables Drs and Nurses to monitor the symptoms of Covid positive patients considered to be at risk of worsening illness and hospital admission, to safely be managed at home through remote online and telephone support and monitoring.

The service, which was devised by a number of Lancashire health care partners including LSCft, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, East Lancashire Medical Services, GP practices, Council and voluntary services in the Blackburn with Darwen and east Lancashire areas, and Pennine Lancashire CCG was an innovative, fast paced partnership that resulted in a practical solution during the heat of the pandemic.

The new service protects and improves the health of vulnerable people, helped to reassure many worried patients, carers and relatives, and reduced pressure on already over-burdened hospital services. Patient feedback has been consistently positive, and the service has been influential regionally and nationally. 

The CVW service has helped over 2,000 people so far and as a Trust we are committed to delivering improved outcomes for our patients, and to be chosen among the other incredible nominees is a wonderful achievement. 

View the full list of finalists for the 2021 HSJ Patient Safety Awards online. As part of the Patient Safety and Congress and Awards, a ceremony will take place in Manchester in September 2021 where the winners will be announced.