Teams from the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) have been named as finalists at the 2024 HSJ Digital Awards.
The HSJ Digital Awards, now in its second year, aim to celebrate the power of digital products, projects and services to transform care delivery, enhance efficiency and improve patient outcomes.
The Black Country ICB, working in partnership with Walsall Together and VUIT, has been successful in two categories for the Black Country Population Outcomes Framework, including Reducing Health Inequalities through Digital and Generating Impact in Population Health through Digital.
The Black Country Population Outcomes Framework has been developed, alongside a digital monitoring tool, to help support partnership decision making and to measure the impact of transformation initiatives in delivering population health and wellbeing outcomes. This means that partnerships across the Black Country now have a comparable way of assessing outcome-based initiatives and measuring their expected impact on priority outcomes, leading the way for outcome-based commissioning in the future.
Michelle McManus, Director for Integrated and Place Based Development for Walsall Together, said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted in two categories for our work to develop an outcomes-based framework. The overall wellbeing of our citizens is key to reducing health inequalities locally and this includes not just health but things like being financially secure and feeling connected to the people around us.
“Through this framework we will be able to improve the ways in which citizens can take control of their own lives as well as having a more targeted approach for our most vulnerable people who experience the poorest outcomes.”
The Black Country ICBs digital team, working in partnership with Wolverhampton-based Sian Computers, has also been successful in two categories for the Black Country Connected Programme, including Digital Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Digital Literacy, Education and Upskilling.
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. Sian Computers distribute the laptops via local “hub days” across the Black Country, as well as providing start-up training and ongoing support to those who need it. 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.
“By supporting people to get online we can unlock a range of online resources including healthcare, education, and social opportunities, all of which contribute to helping people live happier, healthier lives. I am incredibly 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.”
The ICBs digital first primary care team has also been shortlisted for the Improving Primary Care through Digital Award, for their work in supporting GP practices in the Black Country to deliver the national Primary Care Access Recovery Programme. The team have redeveloped all GP practice websites across the system to make them more easily accessible, whilst simultaneously implementing advanced, new telephony systems in GP practices to make it easier for patients to talk to the correct professional. They have also created digital journey planners for primary care staff to improve digital skills as well as a blended offering for the public and are continuing to work collaboratively to improve how care is accessed.
Mark Axcell, Chief Executive Officer for the NHS Black Country ICB, said: “It’s fantastic to see to see so many of our teams being shortlisted at this year’s HSJ Digital Awards.
“These projects not only demonstrate the importance of partnership working but also the significant benefit that digital innovation is bringing to both patients and staff across the Black Country.
“Huge congratulations to everyone involved and best of luck for the awards night.”
The winners of the HSJ Digital Awards 2024 will be announced during an awards ceremony in Manchester on Thursday 6 June.
