A PARTNERSHIP of South West-based NHS and independent sector organisations is celebrating after winning a prestigious award.

The South West Regional Secure Services Partnership, which includes Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health NHS Trust, was recognised for its work to reduce out of area placements and enable more people who need secure mental health treatment to receive it close to home.

The partnership was nominated in the mental health category for the South West Regional Secure Services Wave One New Care Model Pilot project, at the Health Service Journal (HSJ)

Value in Healthcare Awards, which took place in Manchester on Thursday, June 7.

Partnership members have worked together since July 2016 to repatriate 73 service users from out of region placements and they continue to develop new services and pathways to enable even more people to be treated close to home.

Presenting the award, the judges said: “Our winners present a project with a hugely impressive feat of leadership, transforming productivity and patient and family experience across a large geography in a very complex area of care.”

James Wright, managing director of secure services at the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP), said: “We were delighted to be shortlisted for these highly regarded awards.

“To have won is fantastic recognition of the work which has gone in to improving clinical pathways so that more of our most complex service users can receive treatment close to their home.

“We know that having the support of family and friends close by can positively impact on the experience, clinical outcomes, and long term recovery.

“To have helped this number of people in a relatively short space of time is a great achievement and testament to the hard work and dedication of all involved. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has played a part in this exciting and innovative project.”

Devon Partnership NHS Trust is the accountable provider and the other partners include Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, Livewell South West, Elysium Healthcare and Cygnet Healthcare.

The HSJ Value in Healthcare Awards seek to recognise and reward outstanding efficiency and improvement by the NHS. They recognise excellent use of resources, but they also seek out examples of demonstrable improvement in outcomes, both within back office functions and clinical initiatives.