Health trust celebrates triple shortlist success

19th Oct 2017

The Chief Executive of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

Toby Lewis is a finalist in the Chief Executive of the Year category for the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards, whilst the Trust is also up for two more awards.

The Sustainability team has been shortlisted for the Improving Environmental and Social Sustainability category and the Diabetes team is a finalist in the Specialised Service Redesign category for delivering the DiCE model (Diabetes in Community Extension) service.

Mr Lewis, said of his nomination: “I am absolutely thrilled to receive this news and it is an honour to be shortlisted. But this is also recognition for all my colleagues, not just for myself.  It is my privilege to lead 7,200 staff at the Trust to provide the best care to over 500,000 patients. Our vision is to be known as the best integrated care system in the NHS and we work extremely hard every day to ensure that our patients receive the right care at the right time in the right place.”

Mr Lewis joined the Trust in 2013 and is well known for his work in encouraging the community to lead healthier lifestyles with the publication of the Trust’s first ever five year Public Health Plan in 2014 that promotes partnership working to support the community. He is also the driving force behind the Midland Metropolitan Hospital, the £350million hospital currently under construction in Smethwick, due to open in 2019.

Speaking about being shortlisted for the Sustainability award, Fran Silcocks, sustainability officer, added: “We are really pleased. We have worked hard over the last few years towards providing a healthcare service that is energy and water efficient, where waste is minimised and disposed of in a sustainable manner. It is great to have the recognition of the work we are doing and thanks must go to our estates team and sustainability champions for their efforts and ongoing support.”

Dr Parijat De, Consultant Physician and Clinical Lead for Diabetes, said of the Specialised Service Redesign award: “It is wonderful to note that we have been acknowledged yet again nationally for our successful diabetes model. We have been leading on this integrated community diabetes model for some time, meaning that more than 3,000 patients have benefited, with 90 per cent of type 2 diabetes patients now receiving care in the community.

“GP practices have given us positive feedback as they have been able to provide better care to patients because their skills and knowledge have been enhanced, particularly following joint consultation sessions.”

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