An innovative community respiratory care service supporting GP practices across Dudley, has been shortlisted for three national awards; one award at this year’s prestigious HSJ Awards and two awards at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards.
The HSJ Awards, the UK’s most esteemed celebration of healthcare excellence for the past 45 years, recognise the projects, initiatives, and innovations that are shaping the future of NHS care.
The HSJ Patient Safety Awards celebrate teams and individuals dedicated to improving patient safety, reflecting the critical work being done to address the complexity of delivering safe care during times of significant change and pressure.
The ‘one-stop’ respiratory clinic, led by Nazir Hussain, specialist respiratory pharmacist at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, helps to improve diagnosis and treatment for patients with lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) within the community. The clinic has developed new ways of working across primary and secondary care to deliver more integrated respiratory services and improve patient outcomes.
For this work, the service has been shortlisted at the HSJ Awards for Primary and Community Care Health Innovation of the Year, and for both the Primary Care Initiative of the Year, and the Early-Stage Patient Safety Innovation of the Year awards at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards.
Placing patients at the centre of care, the clinic focuses on prevention by proactively identifying those at higher risk of needing hospital treatment in the future. This is achieved by analysing how often patients have required care and what treatments they’ve received. This not only allows for personalised care but also helps tackle health inequalities in underserved communities.
By identifying those most at risk, the service ensures timely and effective interventions, improving access and accelerating referrals. This is transforming the patient experience, with most high-risk respiratory patients successfully managed in the clinic without needing further hospital treatment.
Tests offered at the clinic include spirometry and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), helping to keep patients out of hospital and avoid long waiting lists.
Nazir Hussain said: “We’re incredibly proud to see our work recognised nationally. This service was built around the needs of our patients, aiming to bring expert respiratory care closer to home. By identifying those most at risk and acting early, we’re helping people breathe easier, stay well, and avoid unnecessary hospital visits.”
Diane Wake, group chief executive at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Being shortlisted for not just one but two HSJ Patient Safety Awards as well as a HSJ award, is a fantastic achievement. It reflects the dedication and innovation of our teams in Dudley, who are transforming care through collaboration and prevention. We wish Nazir and the team good luck for the awards in September and November.”
The HSJ Awards honour individuals and organisations who, despite workforce, financial, and demand pressures, are driving progress, delivering innovation, and improving outcomes to build a stronger, more sustainable NHS.
The HSJ Patient Safety Awards continue to inspire progress, drive collaboration, and set the benchmark for best practice in patient safety, ensuring that the care of patients and their families remains at the forefront of healthcare priorities.
The winners of the HSJ Patient Safety Awards will be announced at Manchester Central on Monday 15th September, as part of the annual HSJ Patient Safety Congress. The HSJ Awards winners will be revealed during a ceremony in London on 20th November.
