Northamptonshire emergency healthcare initiative shortlisted for national award
A Northamptonshire initiative for sharing patients’ wishes for emergency care and treatment has been recognised nationally for its significant contribution to patient care.
Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board’s (NICB), Digital ReSPECT (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) programme has been shortlisted in the Digitising Patient Care category at the HSJ Awards 2026.
Recognised as one of the most prestigious awards in UK healthcare, the HSJ Awards celebrate innovation, excellence and outstanding contributions to improving health and care services. More than 1,300 entries were submitted this year, with only 231 projects and individuals reaching the final shortlist. The winners will be announced at the HSJ Awards ceremony on Thursday 19 November 2026.
The ReSPECT programme was developed through collaboration between acute, community, primary, hospice and urgent care providers across Northamptonshire. The programme, delivered through the Northamptonshire Care Record, has replaced fragmented paper-based do-not-resuscitate processes with a single, shared digital care plan which is accessible across health and care organisations. This means that important information about a person’s treatment preferences is available to the health and care professionals who need it, wherever the patient receives care.
As a result of this more connected and accessible approach, traditional paper “do not resuscitate” forms have now been withdrawn, helping to reduce duplication, improve access to patients’ recorded wishes and support more consistent, person-centred decision-making across health and care services.
Maria Laffan, Chief Nursing Officer at the NICB, said: “Digitising ReSPECT plans is an important step forward in making sure that patients’ wishes are available to the right professionals at the right time. This success reflects the dedication and innovation of our clinical, digital and nursing teams, who have led the development and implementation of the digital solution and championed its adoption in practice.
“By sharing this information digitally, we can provide greater confidence that a person’s preferences for their care will be visible wherever they may need treatment. We are absolutely delighted that the hard work and commitment of these teams has been recognised at the HSJ Awards”.
National Medical Director of NHS England, Professor Claire Fuller, has previously praised the programme, describing it as: “An outstanding example of how digital innovation and clinical collaboration can transform care. The pace of adoption and system-wide agreement is exceptional and exactly the kind of work that should be shared nationally.”