OUH shortlisted for two prestigious HSJ Awards

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) has been shortlisted for two national Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards.

The Spine Awake Surgery (SAS) Oxford Protocol has been nominated in the Acute Sector Innovation of the Year category, while the Oxfordshire Breathlessness Diagnostic Pathway pilot – a collaboration between OUH, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB), and Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley (HIOTV) – has been shortlisted for the Modernising Diagnostics Award.

Transforming spinal surgery through innovation

The Spine Awake Surgery (SAS) Oxford Protocol is a pioneering approach to performing high-volume, low-complexity lumbar spine surgery. Developed at the John Radcliffe Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic by Dr Helen Hann, Consultant Anaesthetist at OUH, and Mr Murtuza Sikander, Consultant Neurosurgeon and Spinal Surgeon at OUH, the technique uses local analgesia to numb the patient from the waist down, allowing them to remain awake during the procedure and return home the same day.

This innovative model reduces the need for general anaesthesia, improving patient recovery outcomes, decreasing the risk of post-operative complications, and significantly reducing cancellations due to bed shortages. By enabling day-case surgery, it has also helped address surgical backlogs, improve efficiency, and enhance patient safety during and beyond the pandemic.

Helen Hann, Consultant Anaesthetist at OUH, said: “We’re so pleased to be shortlisted for this award.

“Spine Awake Surgery reflects the high level of innovation ongoing within our Trust. It is also an innovative way of conducting lumbar surgeries and will help reduce our waiting times, ensuring our patients receive the best care possible. The results of this protocol have been published and shared across national platforms, and there’s been a lot of interest in replication and further development.”

A new standard for breathlessness care

The Oxfordshire Breathlessness Diagnostic Pathway pilot is a groundbreaking initiative designed to streamline diagnosis and care for patients experiencing breathlessness. Delivered at the Oxford Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Cowley – an innovative OUH partnership with Oxford Health and Perspectum – the one-stop pilot service provides a same-day assessment, diagnosis and management plan.

The pathway focuses on areas of higher social deprivation, with referrals from eight primary care centres across Oxfordshire. Patients undergo a range of diagnostic tests and receive support from a multidisciplinary team including physicians and physiotherapists in a single appointment.

This community-based approach reduces hospital visits, lowers carbon emissions and accelerates access to specialist care. Feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the thoroughness, efficiency, and compassion of the team.

Compared to standard care, the pilot showed a higher first-visit diagnosis rate (90% vs 52%), reduced follow-ups, fewer secondary care interactions, lower carbon emissions and decreased overall costs. Health economic analysis carried out by HIOTV estimates potential annual savings of £64,500 for a cohort of 288 patients, highlighting improved outcomes, system efficiency and alignment with NHS elective care and health equity goals.

Emma Tucker, Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist at Oxford Health, said: “We’re delighted to be shortlisted for this award alongside our OUH, BOB ICB, and HIOTV colleagues.

“We are proud of the significant difference this service has made in improving patient care. Early diagnosis is essential for preventing disease progression and reducing hospital admissions. This pathway exemplifies the benefits of collaborative working across the system and supports NHS England’s goal to modernise diagnostics and reduce health inequalities.”

The winners of the HSJ Awards will be announced in November 2025.