Teams from the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) have been named as finalists at the 2024 HSJ Partnership Awards.
The HSJ Partnership Awards, now in its seventh year, aim to recognise the most effective partnerships, innovative projects and collaborations with the NHS.
The Black Country ICBs digital team, working in partnership with Sian Computers, has been successful in four categories for the Black Country Connected Programme, including Best Consultancy Partnership with the NHS, Most Impactful Project Addressing Health Inequalities, Social Value Initiative of the Year and Best Community Services with the NHS.
The Black Country Connected Programme is a scheme to loan residents, who have no access to a computer, digital equipment and wi-fi to allow them to access information such as health and care via the internet.
The programme helps them learn IT skills and build confidence to access health and wellbeing services and information online, such as virtual GP appointments and the NHS App.
Mike Hastings, Digital Director at the NHS Black Country ICB, said: “Through the Black Country Connected programme, we are directly addressing digital inequality by providing devices, along with training and support, to help people build their skills and confidence in using a computer and going online.
“To be recognised in four categories in this year’s HSJ awards is testament to the difference this project is making to people’s lives. I am proud of the digital team who, alongside our partners at Sian Computers, are working hard to ensure nobody gets left behind by our ambition for a ‘digital first’ NHS.”
A partnership project between the NHS Black Country ICB, Xylem Resourcing and Signal Analytics Ltd, has also been shortlisted for Primary Care Project of the Year award, which saw the development of a primary care workforce dashboard and planning tool to support the NHS drive to improve access to primary care.
Mark Axcell, Chief Executive Officer for the NHS Black Country ICB, said: “We are absolutely delighted that our teams have been shortlisted for not one, but five, HSJ awards.
“These innovative projects are great examples of the fantastic partnership work being done across the Black Country, all for the benefit of local people. Huge congratulations to all those involved.”
The winners of the HSJ Partnership Awards 2024 will be announced during an awards ceremony in London on Thursday 21 March 2024.
