Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and HCI Shortlisted in the 2021 HSJ Awards

HCI and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust are delighted to announce that ‘CONNECTPlus: Reducing demand through empowering patients with multiple long term conditions to self manage’ has been shortlisted for the Driving Efficiency through Technology award at the HSJ Awards 2021, recognising their outstanding contribution to healthcare – in what has been an exceptional and challenging period across the sector.

Despite the demanding circumstances of the past 18 months, over 1000 entries have been received for this year’s HSJ Awards, with 205 organisations, projects and individuals making it to the final shortlist.

The judging panel was once again made up of a diverse range of highly influential and respected figures within the healthcare community, including Sir Bruce Keogh (Chair, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s FT); Marie Gabriel CBE (Chair, NHS Race and Health Observatory); and former HSJ Trust of the Year winners Ann Marr OBE (Chief Executive, St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals Trust) and Richard Mitchell (Chief Executive, Sherwood Forest Hospitals FT).

Following the intense and in-depth judging process, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and HCI were shortlisted, ahead of the official awards ceremony to be held later this year (November 18). Standing out amongst tough competition from hundreds of other exemplary applicants, ‘CONNECTPlus: Reducing demand through empowering patients with multiple long term conditions to self manage’ was selected based on ambition, visionary spirit and the demonstrable positive impact that the co-design and development of this unique app has had on both patient and staff experiences.

The CONNECTPlus multiple conditions app helps people to manage multiple conditions together and in one place. It is both informative and interactive and provides 24/7 access to clinically assured information with a range of features including symptom trackers, medication management and appointment reminders. Since the use of the app in Rheumatology and Neurology pathways the Trust has reported seeing 43% fewer calls to department helplines as patients are finding answers to their queries in the app. They have also seen a huge saving in nurse clinic time with medication clinics reducing from 4 hours of nurse time a week to just 30 minutes. This has meant it is possible for nurses to prioritise their time to see patients requiring urgent treatment.

Dr Matt Halkes, Clinical Director of Innovation and Digital Transformation, and Consultant Anaesthetist, at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, also Clinical Director of Health and Care Innovations (HCI) comments “We are thrilled to be shortlisted for the Driving Efficiency through Technology award. This recognition really reflects the collaborative efforts and dedication of everyone involved in the development of CONNECTPlus, which has included our patients. Through the use of the CONNECTPlus app, we are better able to manage the increasing demands on our service by enabling patients to manage their own health and remain as independent as possible. Through supporting the shift to patient-initiated follow-up it reduces unnecessary face-to-face clinical contacts and releases staff time. Knowing that there was such stiff competition this year really does make this announcement feel like a wonderful achievement for everyone involved and the nomination has been a tremendous boost to staff at the Trust and HCI.”

The full list of nominees for the HSJ Awards 2021 can be found on https://awards.hsj.co.uk/shortlist-2021.

With special thanks to all the patients and clinical staff at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust who have helped co-design CONNECTPlus including Dr Agne Straukiene, Dr Kirsten Mackay and Rian Penford.