A DRIVE to improve the safety of patients at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised with nominations for nine national awards.

Northumbria has the most finalists of any entrant in the 2019 HSJ Patient Safety Awards, and is the only NHS trust in the north to be shortlisted for patient safety organisation of the year for its work prioritising patient safety and quality in its hospitals and community services.

Leading the way with three award nominations is the trust’s project to spearhead an innovative national project to share best practice to reduce infections after joint surgery.

Another national project, led by Northumbria, to save more lives of patients who have suffered a hip fracture is in the running for two awards.

There are also two nominations for work to enable women to reflect on their birth experience and to receive specialist psychological support.

Sir James Mackey, chief executive of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I’m delighted that our trust-wide focus on quality which means we are always looking for ways we can further improve and deliver even better care for our patients has been rewarded with nine nominations”