Two pioneering London healthcare teams have been recognised at the first-ever NHS Excellence Awards, taking home prizes for transforming care for women and girls and revolutionising sleep disorder diagnosis. 

At a ceremony held at NHS ConfedExpo in Manchester last night, South East London Integrated Care Board (SEL ICB) and North London Sleep Services with Imperial Health Impact Lab each claimed one of ten brand new national awards, putting London at the forefront of NHS innovation. 

Dame Caroline Clarke, Regional Director for the NHS in London, said:“London should be incredibly proud for last night. Two brilliant NHS teams, from opposite ends of the city, have been recognised for their innovation on a national stage. 

“Both are brilliant examples of the 10 Year Health Plan in action — shifting care from hospital to community and from analogue to digital. I congratulate both teams and I hope their success inspires teams across London and beyond.” 

The wins are part of a wider transformation in how Londoners access care – using digital innovation and community-based services to bring treatment closer to home, cut waits and put patients in control.

New figures published today show these shifts are improving productivity, with 66.6% of Londoners waiting less than 18 weeks for elective treatment, up from 62.5% at the start of the year.

Meanwhile,recent data published 28th Mayshows better access thanks to new ways of working, with 56.0% of patients able to see a medical professional on the same or next day. 

Patient Involvement and Choice Award 

SEL ICB won the Patient Involvement and Choice Award for its Women and Girls’ Health Hubs – community-based services set up across Bexley, Greenwich and Lambeth in Spring 2025.

The hubs were created with input from over 1,400 local women and girls, ensuring lived experience shaped the services offered. From menopause and menstrual issues to contraception and preconception health, the hubs bring tailored treatment closer to home, cutting waiting times and tackling gendered health inequalities. 

SEL ICB plans to expand services to include breast pain assessment and care, pelvic organ prolapse and pessary fitting/removal, cervical cancer screening, and STI/HIV screening. 

Hayley Ormandy, Director of Prevention, Wellbeing, Equity and Long-Term Conditions for SEL ICB, said: “We know there is a gender health gap in the UK – too often, women and girls feel their concerns are dismissed. That’s why we were determined to do things differently through our Women and Girls’ Health Hubs. From the outset, we’ve placed the voices of local women and girls at the heart of this work, listening to what matters to them and designing services around their needs. 

“I’m immensely proud of our team’s work with partners, and delighted we have received the Patient Involvement and Choice Award. I would like to thank the women and girls in South East London for shaping and informing our hub model – it’s these voices that are helping to close the gap on unfair and avoidable differences in health access, experience and outcomes.” 

 

Sustainable Healthcare Award 

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust claimed the Sustainable Healthcare Award for AcuPebble – a reusable, AI-enabled neck sensor developed by Imperial College London that is transforming how patients are diagnosed with sleep apnoea. 

Rather than travelling to hospital, patients receive the small device by post, wear it overnight at home, and return it for the next patient. It listens to the airway and analyses physiological signals during sleep, while a finger probe tracks heart rate and oxygen levels, delivering faster, greener and more accessible care. 

Dr Brendan Milanes, Clinical Lead, said:“We’re absolutely delighted to receive the Sustainable Healthcare Award. AcuPebble is transforming how we diagnose sleep apnoea, letting patients test from home, cutting waiting times, reducing plastic waste by 99% and saving an estimated 12.6 tonnes of CO2 every year. Crucially, it’s replacing technologies shown to produce racially biased results – better healthcare has to mean better healthcare for everyone. This award belongs to the whole team, and we’re already expanding across five more NHS regions.” 

The inaugural NHS Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding work improving care for patients and communities across the health and care system. London’s wins were decided by a panel of national leaders following a rigorous regional judging process. 

Read about London’s winners and the other outstanding Regional Champions here.