Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust has been shortlisted for two projects at the 2026 HSJ Patient Safety Awards.
A Bleed Support and Care Box initiative has been shortlisted in the Palliative and End of Life Safety Initiative of the Year category. The Trust’s Palliative and End of Life Care team introduced Bleed Support and Care Boxes to help bring dignity, comfort and a sense of preparedness to families facing the risk of a catastrophic bleed. The boxes were thoughtfully co-produced with a relative whose family experience ensured the items inside reflect real lived experience and what truly matters in those moments.
The project was funded by Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust’s Charity Health Stars. The boxes can be offered in advance to patients identified as being high risk and include a dark towel, dark fleece blanket for warmth and comfort, aprons, gloves and a leaflet to support those living with the risk of bleeding.
The second shortlisted project came from the Trust’s Neurodiversity service for their Core Needs initiative This project was shortlisted in the category of Patient Safety Pilot Project of the Year.
The Core Needs Project is changing how children and young people are supported by focusing on their needs rather than waiting for a diagnosis. It was co‑produced with families and centres on what matters most to each individual child. This approach helps people get support earlier, reduces waiting times and removes the pressure to secure a diagnostic label before help is offered. Professionals across health, education and social care can work together to provide timely, proportionate support that builds resilience and prevents issues from escalating. The model is simple, scalable and fair, improving outcomes and giving families a stronger voice while creating a more responsive and compassionate neurodevelopmental pathway.
Both these projects have tangible impact on patients and service users and can be shared on a wider scale to improve services nationally.
The HSJ Patient Safety Awards are one of the most respected national programmes recognising excellence in patient safety across health and social care. They shine a spotlight on teams and organisations who are improving care, reducing harm and driving innovation that makes services safer for patients. By celebrating real examples of what works, the awards help spread learning, encourage collaboration and inspire others to adopt safer, more effective practices. The awards play an important role in strengthening a culture of continuous improvement and raising standards across the health and care system.
The winners of the 2026 HSJ Patient Safety Awards will be announced on 28th September 2026.