Bristol Eye Hospital team honoured in NHS Parliamentary Awards 2022

A team at Bristol Eye Hospital (BEH) which created a diagnostic assessment service which has provided over 18,000 appointments for patients, has won a regional accolade in the 2022 NHS Parliamentary Awards.

The Diagnostic Assessment Hub Project team from BEH, which is run by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), has won The Future NHS Award for the South West, and will now go forward to the national awards ceremony in London on 6 July.

The project led to the creation of a diagnostic assessment service for patients with chronic irreversible sight threatening eye conditions in July 2020, with the service currently based in a specially created space at the Education and Research Centre near the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

During the clinics patients undergo a range of diagnostic tests on the eyes, including complex images, which leads to appropriate treatments being prescribed or confirming that the correct action is being taken to prevent further eyesight deterioration.

Over time the creation of the service has allowed up to 200 patients a day to be seen as outpatients than would have otherwise been seen through existing capacity.

Miss Abosede Cole, clinical director for ophthalmology at UHBW, said: “We’re delighted that the hub project has been recognised in the NHS Parliamentary Awards, which is a fantastic achievement for the team.

“This is testament to the dedication and commitment of the BEH staff that form the Hub Project Team, and those who have delivered the appointments for our patients. The service has received extremely positive patient feedback, and this award is a reflection of the efforts of the amazing staff who have set-up and are delivering the service.”

The hub was nominated by MPs John Penrose (MP for Weston, Worle & The Villages) and Karin Smyth (MP for Bristol South).

Judges said: “The team have significantly advanced remote digital diagnostic assessment of chronic eye conditions at pace. The project delivered a highly-efficient approach to quality high volume patient care.”

In the South West region for the 2022 NHS Parliamentary Awards, winners have been chosen in 10 categories, ranging from NHS Rising Star to Excellence in Urgent and Emergency Care. This year also saw a new category introduced, reflecting the response to Covid-19.

The successful individuals and teams were selected by NHS leaders in the South West from among 87 nominees – the highest number since the awards were introduced in 2018 to mark the NHS’ 70th birthday.

Elizabeth O’Mahony, Regional Director of NHS England and NHS Improvement in the South West region, said: “I’m delighted to see our dedicated staff across the South West recognised in this way.

“Their tireless commitment and care, not only through the course of the pandemic but for many their whole careers, is truly inspiring and heart-warming.

“I’d like to congratulate every single one of the winners, and to thank all the MPs for putting forward such strong candidates.”

Find out more about the awards and the other South West regional winners on the NHS England website news item.