Vanguard and SWFT Highly Commended at HSJ Partnership Awards 2025: Best Elective Care Recovery Initiative

The establishment of the surgical hub, which has been instrumental in helping reduce waiting lists, was highly commended in the category of Best Elective Care Recovery Initiative at the HSJ Partnership Awards.

The awards are the most recognised and respected mark of the strongest relationships between suppliers and the NHS and recognise outstanding dedication to improving healthcare and effective collaboration with the NHS.

Vanguard and SWFT worked together to create a highly efficient orthopaedic surgical hub, dedicated to elective care patients. With a Vanguard mobile theatre at its heart, the SWFT hub has proved to be highly efficient, achieving incredible results.

It has helped to minimise waits for local patients and its creation also enabled the offering of mutual aid, where neighbouring trusts send patients to SWFT for elective procedures. Over its first 12 months the facility was used to undertake 1016 procedures, including 910 joint replacements, an average of four procedures per day. Day case rates increased 4-fold compared with 2019.

Through the use of the facility, orthopaedics delivered a 30% reduction in length of stay and there was improved RTT performance which saw SWFT climb from 18th to 6th best in the country. Targets for procedures and contribution were achieved, without increasing the number of elective beds.

Mutual aid was provided to four trusts and referrals increased by 10%, including out of area referrals because of SWFT's shorter waiting times.

Theatre staffing improved as trainees completed courses, facilitating two extra general surgery sessions, and supporting additional dedicated paediatric lists and obstetrics sessions.

Vanguard Healthcare Solutions’ Chief Executive Officer, Chris Blackwell-Frost, said: “We are incredibly proud that our work with SWFT has had such a positive impact on the lives of so many patients. To have the work of our dedicated teams, and the impact of that work, recognised in this way is fantastic."