The mammoth challenge of recovering the elective care backlog will be felt by all parts of the NHS, from hospitals delivering care, to primary care services dealing with latent demand and increased pressures on community, mental health and ambulance services. In order to tackle the backlog, collaboration, innovation and new ways of working are essential to optimise capacity within financial and resourcing constraints. Ensuring a continued focus on patient safety through this recovery period and the future expansion of elective services, is paramount.
This award will recognise initiatives local systems have put in place to prioritise and optimise access to elective care services, including, risk stratifying by clinical need and planning for increased demand in specific areas, the use of technology to help reduce waiting lists, patient involvement in the process of prioritisation and integrated approaches which have enabled rapid innovation in service delivery.
Eligibility
Judges are interested both in projects that look to prioritise safety whilst resuming elective care services. Entries are accepted from across the NHS and public sector.