AT a time when it has been damned in a national performance table, Mid and South Essex Hospitals Trust health initiatives have been shortlisted for the prestigious 2025 Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards.

The Health Care Assistant (HCA) Academy which supports the training, development, and retention of Health Care Assistants (HCAs) across Essex has been shortlisted for the Workforce Initiative of the Year award. 

The Hospice Collaborative Partnership, which includes Farleigh Hospice, Havens Hospices and St Luke's Hospice as well as NHS Mid and South Essex has been shortlisted for HSJ Partnership of the Year Award, for The Hospice Rapid Access Service.

And a Stewardship Programme has also been shortlisted, for the Integrated Care Initiative of the Year.

The programme brings together teams of health and care staff and managers within ten care areas, who use their insights to get the best value from shared health and care resources. Frontline health and care staff act as stewards and play a greater role in system decision making with the aim of improving population health and service quality – as well as enhancing staff motivation and pride in work.

A statement from the beleagured trust says: "This recognition highlights the exceptional work and innovation demonstrated by the teams involved and a testament to their dedication to driving healthcare excellence."

Tom Abell, Chief Executive Officer NHS Mid and South Essex, said: "I am delighted for everyone that has been involved in these initiatives.

"Each initiative highlights our work to create an NHS that works for everyone in mid and south Essex."

This year's awards attracted more than 1,250 entries from across the health sector, only 245 projects and individuals making it through to the final shortlist.

The NHS Mid and South Essex shortlisted entries were selected following a rigorous judging process and have been recognised as a standout example of excellence in healthcare delivery. 

The 2025 awards judging panel was made up of a diverse range of highly influential and respected figures within the healthcare community, including; Matthew Style, Director General, Secondary Care and Integration, Department of Health & Social Care, Mark Cubbon, Chief Executive Officer, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services, NHS England as well as a range of esteemed Chief Executives from NHS Trusts across the UK.

HSJ Editor Alastair McLellan commented:

"On behalf of all my colleagues, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate NHS Mid and South Essex in being shortlisted as a finalist in the Workforce Initiative of the Year and Integrated Care Initiative of the Yearcategories. All of the applications represent the 'very best of the NHS' and often leave our esteemed panel of judges with an impossible choice! 

"Year on year the number of entrants continue to rise which I find so encouraging and is testament to the effect that HSJ Awards can have on improved staff culture and morale. 

"We're all very much looking forward to welcoming our finalists to the awards ceremony in November, celebrating their impressive achievements and jointly acknowledging our values of sharing best practice, improving patient outcomes and continuously driving for better service.

"But we never forget that the award ceremony is not just a celebration within a night, but a platform to recognise the hard work of all our NHS staff, all year round."

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 20 November 2025 at Evolution London.

For more details on the 2025 HSJ Awards shortlist, visit https://awards.hsj.co.uk/