THE Bradford on Avon And Melksham Health Partnership has continued its award-winning streak by claiming another honour at the National Friends And Family Test Awards.

The partnership claimed the title of Best Friends And Family Initiative In Primary Care at a ceremony in Leeds on March 17.

Having picked up an award last November with the Lindsay Leg Club for dermatology, it picked up another accolade by demonstrating how it uses feedback to improve the patient experience.

Michelle Coleman, the general manager for Bradford on Avon And Melksham Partnership said: “We are absolutely delighted to win this award. We believe in putting our patients at the heart of everything we do.

“We are committed to not only listening but responding to the needs of our patients. We have a variety of ways people can contact us, from online surveys and feedback boxes in surgery to our patient participation groups.

“We are really pleased to have been recognised for our proactive approach to patient involvement and our dedicated Friends and Family team will continue to make positive changes to improve the experience of our 21,300 patients.”

The partnership was also shortlisted for a number of other awards, including the Nursing Times’ awards for integrated approaches to care.

A dedicated Friends And Family team works across Bradford on Avon Health Centre, St Margaret’s Surgery, Winsley Health Centre and St Damian’s Surgery.

This involves regularly reviewing patient feedback and implementing new initiatives such as increasing the number of reception staff taking calls during busy periods as a result of listening and responding to patient feedback.