The exceptional work that organisations are doing in partnership with the NHS was recognised at the HSJ Partnership Awards 2021 last night, with winners announced in 17 categories.

Two covid-related initiatives featured among the new categories – Regional Covid-19 Response Partnership Award and Local Covid-19 Response Partnership Award.

Other new awards included Best Acute Sector Partnership with the NHS, Most Effective Contribution to Patient Safety and Best Mental Health Partnership with the NHS. All entries were judged on ambition, outcome, spread, value and involvement.

The fourth edition of the awards featured 113 finalists. The 17 eventual winners were chosen by 55 expert judges.

Speaking at the awards, HSJ editor Alastair McLellan said: “The private sector has played a vital role in the nation’s response to the pandemic, and we hope the HSJ Partnership Awards will help underline the fact. 

“The phenomenal achievement of the pharmaceutical sector in developing covid vaccines in record time is rightly well known and applauded – and the technologies and methodologies they have applied to make that break-through will benefit the world for decades to come. This acceleration of innovation has not been restricted to the pharma sector alone, however. In almost every area, suppliers of goods and services to the NHS asked how they could help the service meet the crisis – and then got on with doing just that.

“Winning a HSJ Partnership Award is always, we hope and believe, a cause for celebration and pride. This year’s winners will know – when they glance up at that trophy on the mantlepiece – that in 2021 it also represents something much more.”

You can see the full list of finalist and winners for all 17 categories here.