Barts Health shortlisted for two national patient safety awards
We’re delighted that two Barts Health teams have been named finalists in the HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2025, recognising their outstanding contributions to safer, more effective care.
Now in their 15th year, the HSJ Patient Safety Awards celebrate excellence in patient safety across health and care. With the government’s new 10-year healthcare plan launching in 2025, this year’s awards carry even greater weight, recognising the critical work being done to deliver safe, high-quality care.
Simulation team: WeConnect - perioperative care IT system testing
Shortlisted: Harnessing a human factors approach to improve patient safety
Ahead of the roll-out of the new WeConnect IIIB digital perioperative care system, the simulation team tested how the technology would perform in real-life clinical scenarios. Using a simulated theatre setting, they evaluated how the system impacted team performance, safety processes, and clinician workload.
Rachel Crisp, deputy associate director for simulation, explained:
The physical environment is challenging, there is constant noise from machines, abnormal lighting (either very bright or very dark for laparoscopic work) and subject to numerous smells and visual stimulus from the surgery itself. This external environmental stimulus can affect clinical cognition.
Their findings highlighted benefits, like reduced administrative tasks and better information sharing, as well as areas to monitor, such as changes in clinical task flow and the detection of patient deterioration. Their work ensured risks were identified early, helping to support a smoother, safer go-live.
When asked what being a finalist means to the team, John McKenna, consultant anaesthetist and medical simulation lead at The Royal London Hospital shared:
This nomination recognises the wider role of in-situ simulation in testing new systems and ways of working prior to implementation. By testing these new systems in the workplace, we can identify real-life implications, anticipate issues, and make informed suggestions to help implementation and improve patient safety.
Deployment of digital consent
Shortlisted: Safety improvement through technology
The eConsent programme has replaced paper forms with a digital process across 35 specialties, improving safety, accessibility and transparency. Patients receive clear, trusted information early in their journey and can give informed consent remotely, in their own time.
One orthopaedic patient, aged 79, shared:
I thought the system was very good and easy to use. I already use my phone for different platforms and found this one as straightforward as the others. I could navigate the system on my own, read through the information on my phone, understand it all and sign the consent form before coming for surgery.
Driven by a small, skilled team and strong clinical engagement, the project has enhanced shared decision-making and reduced on-the-day delays, benefiting patients and staff alike. Daminee Seetannah, senior improvement advisor, improvement and transformation team, said:
Whilst we were a small team, we had complementary skillsets which we used to navigate a successful programme. The engagement of clinical stakeholders across the organisation was outstanding. The success of the programme was realised by listening to each site, understanding what mattered to them, to deliver high quality safe consent processes and checks.
Finalists will be celebrated at the awards ceremony on 15 September in Manchester. Congratulations to both teams, our fingers are crossed for you!
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View full HSJ patient safety shortlist
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