Shortlisted for two HSJ Patient Safety Awards

We are proud to announce that we have been shortlisted in two categories at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2026, recognising our work to improve safety and quality of care across the NHS.

Our shortlisted initiatives are:

• A Value-Based Healthcare Approach to Surgical Mesh
  Surgical Care Safety Initiative of the Year
• IMS: Scan4Safety and IMS at Point of Care enabled by GS1 standards
  Safety Improvement through Technology

Both projects were recognised following a rigorous judging process, highlighting our focus on innovation, collaboration and delivering safer, more resilient healthcare systems.

The IMS Programme is improving patient safety through point-of-care scanning and real-time inventory visibility, preventing incorrect or expired products from reaching patients and reducing delays. Early adopters have released an average of 700 clinical hours per year and reduced stock-related theatre cancellations.

I’m really pleased to be shortlisted – it shows how simple solutions, like capturing information once and using it many times, can make a real difference to patient safety. I’d also like to thank all the teams involved whose hard work and collaboration have made this possible.

Gill Fox, Director of In-Hospital Services

Our work with University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay on surgical mesh has transformed outcomes for complex abdominal wall reconstruction. Recurrence rates have fallen from up to 80% to just 0.8% across 120 cases, alongside shorter hospital stays, fewer complications and £1.57 million in efficiency savings.

This recognition is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our teams, who continue to make a meaningful difference to patient safety across the NHS.

Ian Dodd, Surgical, Medical and Surgical Consumables team

View all of the finalists on the HSJ Patient Safety Awards website where you can also find more information on the projects shortlisted.