BCHC shortlisted for the 2026 HSJ Patient Safety Awards
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's (BCHC) Patient Safety team has been shortlisted for Patient Safety Team of the Year at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2026.
The awards celebrate outstanding contributions to patient safety and recognise organisations that are delivering safer care despite increasing complexity, ongoing pressures, and significant change across the healthcare system.
The team's shortlisted entry, 'Transforming Patient Safety: From Insight to Organisation-Wide Impact', was selected following a rigorous judging process. It was recognised as a compelling example of how patient safety extends beyond clinical excellence to create a culture of openness, learning, and collaboration, while harnessing innovation and technology to build safer, more resilient healthcare systems.
BCHC's Patient Safety team is focused on transforming care through culture, innovation, and partnership working. Key achievements include the development of the organisation's first-ever Patient Safety Blueprint, setting out a five-year vision for safer care, inclusive of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), Huddling Up for Safer Healthcare (HUSH) safety huddles, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation, and Decision (SBARD) communication tools, and values-based recruitment.
Working closely with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and local partners, the team has strengthened reporting, assurance processes, and system-wide learning. This work has delivered measurable improvements through targeted Safety Improvement Plans, harm-reduction initiatives, and the establishment of an annual Patient Safety Summit.
The active involvement of colleagues, patients and Patient Safety Partners has been central to this success, helping to embed a culture of continuous learning, empowering teams to drive improvement and ensure patient safety remains at the heart of decision-making. Together, these initiatives are delivering safer, higher-quality and more patient-centred care across both organisational and system-wide levels.
Amar Iqbal, Head of Patient Safety and Quality, said:
"We are incredibly proud to be shortlisted for the HSJ Patient Safety Awards. This recognition reflects the dedication, expertise, and commitment of colleagues across our organisation and our partners, who work every day to make care safer for our patients. It is a testament to the culture of safety, learning, collaboration and continuous improvement that we are building together."
The event celebrates the outstanding teams and individuals making a significant difference to patient safety across health and care services.
The 2026 judging panel includes some of the most influential figures in healthcare and winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 28 September 2026 at the Telford International Centre.
For more information about the 2026 HSJ Patient Safety Awards shortlist, visit the HSJ Patient Safety Awards shortlist.