Community Partnership award
Strong partnerships can make a lasting difference to people's health and wellbeing. This award celebrates a member of staff or team who has worked with communities, local organisations and partners to improve access to services, tackle inequalities and respond to local needs.
Paediatric Diabetes Team
The Paediatric Diabetes Team worked with the Children North East Poverty Proofing programme to better understand the challenges some families face when managing diabetes. By listening to the experiences of children, young people, parents and carers, the team gained valuable insight into how financial pressures and other barriers can affect access to care and support.
This work has led to meaningful changes in the way the service is delivered, ensuring every child and young person has the best possible opportunity to manage their diabetes and achieve good health outcomes. The team has also shared its learning beyond Gloucestershire, supporting other services to address inequalities and improve care for families facing similar challenges.
Maternity Triage Improvement Project Team
The Maternity Triage Improvement Project brought together women, birthing people, partners, community groups and staff to redesign the service based on their experiences. Developed in response to feedback about communication, waiting times and the care environment, the project used a co-design approach to ensure those using and delivering the service helped shape the improvements.
The project has delivered a range of changes, including improved patient information, better signage, a maternity triage welcome film, new telephone systems and stronger workforce arrangements. Just as importantly, it has created lasting ways for women, families and staff to share feedback and influence future developments.
By listening to those at the heart of the service, the team has improved both experience and care while creating a culture where people feel heard and able to make a difference.
Scott Vallance
Ophthalmic Imaging
Since launching the Community Ophthalmic Link in 2022, Scott has transformed the way primary and secondary eye care work together across Gloucestershire. Rolled out to every optometry practice in the county, the system provides community optometrists with secure access to hospital eye records and imaging, making it the first initiative of its kind in the country.
The impact has been substantial, with fewer unnecessary referrals to the Hospital Eye Service, shorter waiting lists, significant savings for the NHS and a reduction in carbon emissions.
Patient feedback has also been overwhelmingly positive, with 98% saying the Community Ophthalmic Link improved their experience of care. Through his innovation and determination, Scott has developed a service that is improving care for patients while shaping the future of eye care delivery.