UHCW Orthoptics Team celebrates major win at the HSJ Value Awards

Members of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire's Orthoptics Team are celebrating after improvements to their school vision screening service were recognised at the HSJ Value Awards.

The eye irregularity specialists scooped the Workforce Efficiency Award and were shortlisted for Technology Initiative of the Year.

Judges were impressed with work undertaken to further enhance the effectiveness of the screening service provided to four and five-year-olds at schools across Coventry, Rugby and North Warwickshire since 2002/03.

With demand on the service growing - 8,130 pupils were seen across 173 schools in 2017-18 – it was decided to move away from outdated paper-based workflows.

In their place came automated processes, including a bespoke webpage – believed to be the first of its kind in the country - that could be used safely and effectively with external organisations.

As well as reducing administration time from 1,000 hours to 375 hours per year, the changes have meant more youngsters can benefit from this vital service.

Head Orthoptist Helen Simpson said: “Successes have been numerous, with cost and efficiency savings realised and stronger clinical governance now in place.

“When we were working with the Communications Team to prepare our award submission, it brought home how much we have achieved in a short space of time. All staff deserve huge credit for taking this from the drawing board to reality.

“Winning the Workforce Efficiency Award at the HSJ Value Awards is the icing on the cake and we are absolutely delighted.”

Members of the team were presented with their award during a special ceremony in Manchester. In attendance with Helen were Rahilah Bukhari, Acting Orthoptic Special Needs Lead, Scott Robbins, Senior Information System Developer from Performance and Informatics, Community Lead Jayna Mistry and Special Schools Lead Jenny Martin.