Falls project shortlisted for top award

Tuesday 5 April 2016


HSJ Value in Healthcare Awards

An innovative project to help older people who are at risk of suffering a fall is in the running to win a prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) Value in Healthcare Award.

Guy's and St Thomas' community rehabilitation and falls team is shortlisted in the Community Health Service Redesign category of these national awards which aim to “recognise and reward outstanding efficiency and improvement by the NHS”.

The community rehabilitation and falls team uses low cost methods to identify people who are at risk of falls, which can lead to lengthy stays in hospital.

For example, telephone assessments assign patients to the correct community falls prevention team quickly, based on their medical needs.

The team also runs more than 20 strength and balance exercise classes in Lambeth and Southwark and provides one-to-one treatment in people's homes.  

Amanda Williams, General Manager for Adult Community Services, says: "It is a fantastic achievement for the team to win recognition for their work supporting local elderly people to stay fit and remain in their own homes. Well done to everyone involved in this innovative project.”

Essentia, Guy’s and St Thomas’ estates, facilities and capital development directorate, is shortlisted in two categories of the awards: 

  • Redeveloping Sterile Services, including an improved unit at St Thomas’ and a new unit at Guy’s to improve safety and efficiency, in the non-clinical support services category
  • Recladding East Wing at St Thomas’ Hospital, in the estates management category.

Steve McGuire, Director of Essentia, explains: “The rationale for the East Wing project was simple – the building leaked, it wasn’t energy efficient, and the patient lifts were not fit for purpose, so a complete overhaul was needed.

“Improving our infrastructure without disrupting patient care was a key priority. We are very proud that the East Wing project was completed without cancelling any appointments or treatment.”

Two organisations hosted by Guy’s and St Thomas’ are shortlisted for the awards:

  • The Health Innovation Network, the Academic Health Science Network for south London, is a finalist in the workforce category for an internship scheme to recruit the best new graduates from local universities into non-clinical support roles such as IT, finance and procurement
  • NHS London Procurement Partnership is a finalist in the non-clinical support services category for work done with Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust to review and renegotiate their Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract for Soft Facilities Management (FM) services, which has saved nearly £5 million.

HSJ Value in Healthcare Awards winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Manchester on 24 May.

Last updated: March 2022

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