Transformational Lipid Optimisation Programme shortlisted for prestigious NHS Parliamentary Award
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is delighted to announce that its innovative Lipid Optimisation Programme has been shortlisted for the Health Equalities Award at the NHS Parliamentary Awards 2024* which recognises a team that helps the NHS find new ways to identify and tackle unwarranted variation, reducing health inequalities and prevent ill health in their community. The programme is a collaborative working project conducted in partnership with Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK.
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. People in the most deprived areas of England are almost 4 times more likely to die prematurely from CVD, compared with those in the least deprived areas.
Prioritising suitable patients from the most deprived areas of Buckinghamshire, the Trust is able to offer additional medications 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. Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for a quarter of the 6.5 year gap in life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas of Buckinghamshire. Our programme has provided all patients across Buckinghamshire with access to a greater range of NICE-approved lipid lowering medications, which will reduce their risk of having a further heart attack or stroke and ultimately save lives. Our team is grateful to have been recognised by the NHS Parliamentary Awards, and we’re looking forward to the awards ceremony in October.”
A panel of national judges – made up of notable figures across the healthcare sector – will now come together to select the winners of this year’s awards. These winners will be announced at the awards ceremony taking place on Monday 14th October 2024 – when healthcare leaders, finalists and MPs will come together to celebrate the immense contribution which healthcare staff make to the NHS.