WINNER

The Dudley Group FT

Integrating End-of-Life Care Into Intensive Care Practice

Between 15-20 per cent of patients admitted to UK intensive care units die, yet ICU systems are primarily designed for life-prolonging treatment, creating safety risks when patients are approaching end of life. This project demonstrates how a structured palliative care framework can be safely embedded within intensive care practice. In 2023, the ICU at Dudley Group Foundation Trust became the first UK unit to achieve Gold Standards Framework accreditation. Implementation delivered sustained improvements in earlier identification of patients in their last year of life, advance care planning, personalised care for dying patients, specialist collaboration, and direct discharge to patients’ preferred place of care.

Read a detailed case study about this project at HSJ Best Practice.

Highly commended

Humber Teaching FT: Bleed Support and Care Box

Finalists

Rowans Hospice, Portsmouth Hospitals University Trust & Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare FT: Emergency End of Life Response Team

University Hospital of the North Midlands Trust: Right Care, Right Time: Palliative Care in The Emergency Department

Harrogate and District FT: Harrogate End of Life Planning and Support Service (HELPSS)

Northamptonshire Healthcare FT: Building Safe, Compassionate and Timely Care in Nursing Homes Through Registered Nurse Verification of Expected Adult Death Education

University Hospitals of Liverpool Group: The IMPaCT North Palliative Care Virtual Ward

University Hospitals Plymouth Trust: A System‑Wide Safety Initiative Transforming End‑of‑Life Care

Barts Health Trust: Transforming End of Life Care: A Champion-Led Quality Improvement Approach

Topics

HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2026: Winners revealed

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The winners of the HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2026 were announced last night, recognising outstanding efforts to make care safer.