The Vale of York Proactive Health Coaching initiative has won the Self-Management Award at the Medipex Innovation Awards and Showcase 2017.

NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is the first CCG in the country to trial the Health Navigator project, a telephone based care coaching service that is widely used in Sweden and Denmark. In partnership with Health Navigator and York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the CCG has delivered an effective preventative strategy that simultaneously provides better care for patients and reduces stress on A&E departments.

A dedicated care coach supports patients with consistent, planned telephone contact. Calls focus on strengthening patients’ ability to self-manage and navigate the healthcare system, helping them to better understand their chronic conditions and better manage their care.

Fiona Bell, the CCG’s Innovation Lead said: “We are thrilled that our Proactive Health Coaching project has won the Self-Management Award, especially among such stiff competition.

“This project is a fantastic example of commissioners, NHS providers and private sector partners working collaboratively across what can be complex organisational boundaries and really making a difference to our patients and communities.”

The project has been running successfully in the Vale of York for 12 months and has supported 400 local patients who have reported an increased quality of life.

With positive feedback from both local patients and clinicians, the CCG has recently made the decision to expand the study to another 400 patients.

Fiona Bell added: “By supporting patients who are currently high users of services with weekly coaching calls, this trial is already showing high levels of patient experience and reduced attendances at A&E, fewer admissions to hospital and patients reporting more confidence in managing their conditions.

“There’s some brilliant work going on in the system and I’m delighted that work to build confidence with patients to manage complex conditions and improve their quality of life is being recognised.”

The award success comes on the back of the CCG winning the Innovation Award and the Close Partnering and Collaboration Award at the Healthcare Financial Management Association Yorkshire and Humber Awards earlier in the year for its work to improve the quality, efficiency and sustainability of services delivered to patients across the Vale of York.

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