Bexley’s GPs win three national awards
Bexley GP commissioners scooped a hatrick of awards at this year’s prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) awards on Monday (29 November 2010). The Primary Care Chest Pain Clinic – which sees patients travel from the borough to Harley Street for world-class cardiology care – was selected from a range of outstanding candidates as a clear winner.
The community cardiology team won the award for acute and primary care innovation, as well as the patient-centred care award. This year’s competition included the Secretary of State’s award for excellence in healthcare management, which is a prize for the best of the 16 winning entries – which was also won by Bexley GPs.
Lead GP Dr Kosta Manis said: “We are delighted to win these awards. The judges not only recognised the hard work of the team, but also the benefit to patients of a GP-driven, top-quality, low-cost service – from their doorstep to one of the best cardiology services in Europe.
Judges praised GPs in Bexley for 'handling NHS budgets effectively, buying better services for less money by negotiating hospital and other providers' contracts more successfully, and also making impressive savings.
They recognised that it is the first time it has been used in the United Kingdom and could help save the lives of thousands of people every year if rolled out nationally