Three teams from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) are in the running for four top healthcare awards, which recognise commitment to improving patient safety and driving innovation in healthcare.
LPT provides community and mental health services for all ages across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR). The Trust’s involvement in the primary care mental health pathway project in North-West Leicestershire and inpatient self-harm reduction project, on the Bradgate Mental Health Unit’s Heather Ward, are both shortlisted as finalists in the HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2025. The projects are shortlisted for the primary care initiative of the year and nursing-led patient safety initiative of the year respectively. The Trust’s Waterlily Inpatient Prevention Programme, supporting adults with eating disorders, is also in the running for an award in two categories, including community care initiative of the year and virtual or remote care initiative of the year.
The Waterlily Inpatient Prevention Programme is a new pioneering online service, led by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust on behalf of the East Midlands NHS Provider Collaborative for adults with anorexia nervosa. It aims to reduce hospital admissions and support patients’ recovery, while allowing them to live at home and remain involved in aspects of their normal lives. This includes continuing with hobbies and seeing friends and family, which can be a motivating factor in recovery.
Data from the programme has shown those taking part have had significant improvements in weight and psychological wellbeing, due to the practical support, psychoeducational groups and therapeutic interventions offered. The programme lasts for 16 weeks, includes step-down care to increase patient independence, and education for patients’ loved ones.
Work to significantly reduce self-harm incidents on LPT’s female inpatient Heather Ward was led by the ward’s charge nurse and Trust’s suicide prevention lead, supported by Health Innovation East Midlands. Following an analytical review of when self-harm incidents took place, the team identified incidents were lower on days where more communal activities took place. As a result, the ward nurses put on a broader range of supportive shared events, such as coffee mornings and craft activities, on days when self-harm incidents were typically higher. They also organised for activity coordinators to actively approach patients to encourage them to take part. By adding in more group patient enrichment to the ward’s activity schedule, the ward saw a 40% reduction in incidents, improving patient safety on the wards.
The North-West Leicestershire Primary Care Mental Health Pathway project was developed in partnership between the local LPT neighbourhood mental health lead and mental health practitioners, the North-West Leicestershire GP Federation and LLR MIND. After recognising gaps in local mental health support, the partnership saw an opportunity to develop a primary care mental health pathway that streamlines and enhances the mental health offer to local people in need of support.
By bringing together professionals involved in providing mental health support in the local area and supporting them to work in a joined-up team approach, the project helped to reduce waiting times for patients and increased the number of patients able to be seen, making sure patients see the right professional at the right time. Over 1,300 patients have been through the pathway, which has delivered 3000 appointments in the last year.
Angela Hillery, chief executive of Leicestershire Partnership NHS trust, said: “I am so pleased to see so many of our services as finalists in the HSJ Patient Safety Awards. Our main aim is always to ensure high standards of patient safety in our services. Our staff strive to consistently deliver compassionate care while making a difference to the lives of those who use our services. I am also proud to see how we have worked in partnership on these effective projects, which demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in healthcare.”
Organised by the Health Service Journal (HSJ), the Patient Safety Awards celebrate teams and individuals who go above and beyond to protect patients from harm, reduce risks, and embed a culture of safety across the UK healthcare sector.
The award winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 15 September 2025 at Manchester Central, bringing together hundreds of healthcare professionals from across the country.
For more information about the HSJ Patient Safety Awards, visit: https://awards.patientsafetycongress.co.uk