Innovative Buckinghamshire healthcare programme shortlisted for prestigious national award

Date: 15/08/2024 | Category: News 2024

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is delighted to announce that its innovative Lipid Optimisation Programme has been shortlisted for the Data Driven Transformation Award at the HSJ Awards, recognising an outstanding contribution to healthcare and securing a place at the prestigious awards ceremony later this year. The programme is a collaborative working project conducted in partnership with Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK.

More than 1,350 entries have been received for this year’s HSJ Awards, with 234 projects and individuals reaching the final shortlist. The high volume and exceptional quality of applications showcases the impressive levels of innovation and care continually being developed within the UK’s healthcare networks.

Following the thorough judging process, the Buckinghamshire Lipid Optimisation Programme was shortlisted, ahead of the official awards ceremony to be held later this year, with its standing out as a real ‘success story’ worthy of a prized place on the panel’s shortlist.

The Lipid Optimisation Programme tackles high cholesterol – one of the biggest causes of cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as heart attacks and strokes, in Buckinghamshire by using an innovative population health tool to identify CVD patients that need to better manage their cholesterol levels. Once identified, the Trust is able to offer additional medications for the first time to these patients to treat their high cholesterol. Over 1,100 patients have now been contacted and reviewed by expert clinicians from the Trust in the first 6 months of the programme, with over 62% of patients starting new medications or having their dosage increased.

Dr Mark Johnson, Associate Medical Director for Clinical Productivity & Transformation: “A raised cholesterol is one of the most common causes of cardiovascular diseases and a key driver of health inequalities in the UK. Our programme has provided patients across Buckinghamshire with access to a greater range of lipid lowering medications, which will reduce their risk of having a heart attack or stroke and ultimately save lives. We’re grateful that our team has been recognised for the important work we’re doing in this area.”

The selected winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at Evolution London on 21st November 2024. The 2024 awards judging panel was once again made up of a diverse range of highly influential and respected figures within the healthcare community, including; Stephen Powis, National Medical Director, NHS England, Rosa Waddingham, Chief Nurse, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB and Matthew Style, Director General, Secondary Care and Integration Department of Health & Social Care, as well as a range of esteemed Chief Executives from NHS Trusts across the UK.