Two Trust projects shortlisted for awards

Two projects of the Trust’s public health team have been shortlisted for prestigious HSJ Value Awards.

“A Picture of Health” saw the Trust working with Imperial College and supported by the Health Foundation to identify a core catchment area for the Trust. It then estimates the health needs of people in that catchment, to help plan services and public health responses.

• A Picture of Health

For “Tip Top Teeth” we have been working with Kensington and Chelsea, the City of Westminster, and Public Health England (London). Almost 1 in 3 children in our catchment area are estimated to have visible signs of tooth decay by the age of 5, an almost entirely preventable disease. This preventative project uses hospital attendances to raise awareness through a combination of general messaging (e.g. videos, poster displays, discharge information) as well as targeted interventions such as supervised toothbrushing for paediatric inpatients.

Both show the role the Trust can play in promoting health as well as treating disease.

A Picture of Health

Determining a hospital’s population health needs

Chelsea and Westminster FT, Imperial College London, Supported by Health Foundation

HSJ Value Pilot Project of the Year

Background: Hospitals don’t usually have defined geographic populations to whom they provide services: patients may attend from anywhere, without being geographically constrained.

Sophie Coronini-Cronberg, consultant in public health, said: “We’re delighted to have been shortlisted for this prestigious award. This work gives us a new perspective on the population that we serve. By developing a better understanding of the local community that is likely to use one of our hospitals, rather than just those who actually attend, we can make better decisions about how we plan and deliver integrated services, including COVID recovery, as well as how we support local preventative efforts to keep people healthier for longer.”

The report identifies around 620,000 people, or 1 in 14 of London’s population, who fall within the Trust’s core catchment in two large areas, each centred on one of the Trust’s sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital. Of course the Trust sees and treats patients from outside this area as well.

The report identifies the very significant health inequalities among its catchment population: for example an over 20-year difference in healthy life expectancy between men and women living in the most compared to the least deprived areas.

• Learn more and view the report

Tip Top Teeth

Hospital-based Oral Health Prevention Programme

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS FT

Bi-borough Department of Public Health: City of Westminster; Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Public Health England (London)

Professor Kevin Fenton, London regional director for Public Health England, said: “To be shortlisted for this award is such an honour and excellent news for everyone involved.

The ‘Tip Top Teeth’ programme is a brilliant example of what can be achieved through innovation and collaboration. From information on reducing sugar intake, to promotional materials, practical hands-on advice on toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste, and continuing care with local dentists - all the elements of the project were crafted to tackle and reduce the incidence of tooth decay in this area.

Making every contact count is proven to make positive differences to health outcomes in London, and we have no doubt that this programme will continue to positively impact oral health now and into the future.”

Sophie Coronini-Cronberg, Consultant in Public Health, said: “We’re thrilled to have also been shortlisted for this prestigious award. Almost 1 in 3 children in our catchment area are estimated to have visible signs of tooth decay by the age of 5, an almost entirely preventable disease. We also know that hospital visits can be good moments for positive health behaviour change. The ambition of our programme is for every child attending Chelsea and Westminster Hospital to receive an oral health message. We are reaching some of the groups most vulnerable to tooth decay; and all this at a time when COVID has significantly reduced community dental capacity.”

The programme is a partnership with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and City of Westminster (“Bi-Borough”) Public Health department, and supported by Public Health England (London).