NHS Trust of the Year among national awards shortlist success for NHFT
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) has been shortlisted in two categories of the prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards 2026 - including for the coveted Trust of the Year prize.
The annual HSJ Awards recognises outstanding contribution to healthcare and this year more than 1,300 entries were received from organisations across the country in 26 different categories. In shortlisting 231 projects and individuals for the final awards ceremony later this year, organisers noted the "exceptional quality of applications showcasing impressive levels of innovation and care continually being developed within the UK's healthcare networks".
NHFT was shortlisted as a finalist in both the Trust of the Year and the Neighbourhood and Community Care Innovation of the Year categories of the 2026 awards.
Trust of the Year recognises organisations which have successfully taken on the biggest challenges in today's NHS landscape, including reducing waiting times, improving clinical care and ensuring they remain financially stable - all while keeping the wellbeing of staff and inclusivity at the heart of their approach.
NHFT's submission focused on the development of our co-produced THRIVE strategy, our commitment to supporting the national 10-Year Health Plan, and our work towards achieving Advanced Foundation Trust status and Integrated Health Organisation designation. It also highlighted our continuing efforts to improve access and experience of care as well as health outcomes for our communities in Northamptonshire and beyond, while supporting the work of Northamptonshire's wider health and care system.
The Neighbourhood and Community Care Innovation of the Year submission focuses on the Trust's work with the new Corby Diagnostic Centre, which has enabled healthcare, education and local voluntary and community partners to provide collaborative care for patients and carers which exemplifies how neighbourhood healthcare can work in practice.
The new centre has enabled the NHFT's Memory Assessment team and local partners to reduce the time it takes for patients to receive a full memory assessment from 4 to 6 months down to just a couple of weeks. Patients and carers no longer need to attend multiple appointments at different locations over several weeks. All of the diagnostic processes can be done in one day with results delivered within a couple of weeks, delivering a true neighbourhood approach to care delivery in Corby.
NHFT Chief Executive Angela Hillery said: "We're really pleased to be shortlisted as finalists in two categories of this year's HSJ Awards. To be shortlisted as Trust of the Year is recognition for the tremendous work all of our colleagues do every day, while our submission in the Neighbourhood and Community Care Innovation of the Year category is just one example of the many ways we make a difference, together.
"Whatever the result in the finals later in the year, everyone in team NHFT deserves huge congratulations for this fantastic collective achievement."
The winners of the HSJ Awards 2026 will be selected following a further judging process and announced during an awards ceremony taking place in November.
The awards judging panel was once again made up of a diverse range of highly influential and respected figures within the healthcare community, as well as a range of esteemed board level executives from NHS Trusts across the UK.
HSJ editor, Alastair McLellan, said: "It always gives me great pleasure to congratulate our finalists at this stage of the judging process and this year is no exception as we acknowledge Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for being shortlisted in our Trust of the Year and Neighbourhood and Community Care Innovation of the Year categories.
"However, it's always important to remember that the HSJ Awards are not just a celebration of success stories but also a platform to shape the future of the NHS.
"We can't wait to welcome our finalists to the awards ceremony in November and to recognise and applaud such impressive achievements across the sector."
The full list of nominees for the 2026 HSJ awards can be found at https://awards.hsj.co.uk/shortlist-2026 alongside details of the Awards partners at https://awards.hsj.co.uk/partners.