The Bollington, Disley and Poynton Care Community have been shortlisted for a prestigious healthcare award.

The HSJ Value Award of the Year is recognising the team for their Single Point of Access initiative, which was developed to offer a more integrated patient experience.

The service has a focus on home visits which operates through a streamlined referral process which the East Cheshire NHS Trust says has ensured patients get the "the right care, at the right time, by the right professionals".

Under the initiative which started last April, patients receive a phone call within 2 hours of referral from an experienced clinician with access to an urgent visiting team and knowledge of the range of services available in the community.

The patient is screened according to priority and complexity and given advice, a referral to another service or a home visit. The clinician will rate the urgency of the call before selecting the most appropriate professional or professionals to visit the patient at home first time.

The Trust says the multi-disciplinary home visiting team draws on a rota of professionals from within the Care Community and includes GPs, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, District Nurses, Therapists, Community Paramedics, Social Worker and Social prescriber.

Rhoda Gaylo, Bollington,Disley and Poynton Coach the Trust said: "We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the HSJ Value Awards recognising the collaborative efforts and dedication of our teams over the last 12 months to successfully implement the BDP Single Point of Access.

"We are committed to delivering improved outcomes for patients in our Care Community even through challenging times, and to be chosen among the other incredible nominees is a wonderful achievement."

The winners will be selected following a rigorous, second stage of judging ahead of the HSJ Value Awards 2021 awards ceremony held at Manchester Central at the end of June.

HSJ editor Alastair McLellan said: "We would like to congratulate the Bollington, Disley and Poynton (BDP) Care Community team on being shortlisted in the HSJ Value Award of the Year category. This year's finalists have not only contributed to the continued fight against the Covid-19 pandemic within the NHS but have also been exceptionally dedicated to enhancing healthcare across the UK.

"We are honoured to be recognising and celebrating their outstanding work after what is, no doubt, the most challenging year in the history of the NHS. We are looking forward to welcoming them to the award ceremony in June."