This year’s NHS Excellence Awards has recognised the innovation of not just one, but two exceptional teams at East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust. The awards, which are linked to the ambitions of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, recognise outstanding practice across 10 categories.
A multidisciplinary team based at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre has been recognised as a Regional Champion in the Neighbourhood Health category for revolutionising oncology care. The Care Closer to Home model enables cancer patients to self-administer cancer therapy at home rather than travelling to hospital.
Since 2022, the programme has delivered over 2,500 injections with no notable safety incidents, freeing 2,520 hours of hospital chair time and saving the NHS £430,000. Patient satisfaction is high, with 92.5% reporting benefit from reduced hospital visits and 93% confident in self-managing their treatment.
Mount Vernon Cancer Centre’s head of pharmacy Dr Vikash Dodhia said:
“The combined work of our consultants, pharmacists, nurses, and administrators has led to a radical shift to move care beyond the hospital walls without compromising patient safety. We haven’t just moved care closer to home – we have delivered it into the home, setting a new gold standard for sustainable, patient-centred oncology.”
The work of the Carer Experience Service has been recognised in the Patient Involvement and Choice category for embedding carers as partners in hospital care. Since April 2023, the service has deployed trained volunteers in roles spanning practical support and advocacy to community engagement, in a model being adopted by NHS trusts across the country.
The service has delivered over 4,600 volunteer hours and supported over 2,300 families, with carers reporting feeling more informed, supported, and less isolated.
Carer Experience Manager Jan-Axle Enabore said:
“I’m genuinely delighted with the difference this service is making for carers and families. It’s improved patient choice and supported staff to work more efficiently, but most importantly it’s about people feeling heard, supported, and not alone.“Carers have shaped this service from the very beginning, and we deeply value working alongside them to provide care and support that truly reflects their needs and experiences.”
The two teams will progress to the national finals, with winners announced at the NHS ConfedExpo on 10 June.
