The Harrogate End of Life Planning and Support Service (HELPSS) has been shortlisted for the HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2026 in two categories:
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Palliative & End of Life Safety Initiative of the Year
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Improving Safety for Older People Initiative of the Year
These recognises the critical work being done to address the complexities of delivering safe care amidst times of significant change and long-standing pressures.
The HELPSS Team were selected following a rigorous judging process and has been recognised as a standout example of Patient safety which extends beyond clinical excellence to fostering a culture of openness, learning and collaboration while harnessing the power of technology to create safer, more resilient systems.
HELPSS delivers high-quality palliative and end of life care in the Harrogate locality and have increased identification of the last year of life, are supporting advance care planning as well as providing 24/7 telephone advice and support to patients and carers. This has enabled coordinated personalised care to an increasing number of patients who would not otherwise have accessed specialist palliative care services.
Over 20 months, HELPSS has reduced unplanned admissions and length of stay in the last year of life, supporting more end of life care in the patient’s preferred place.
Kath Lambert, Consultant in Palliative Medicine at HDFT said “We are delighted to be shortlisted for the HSJ Patient Safety Awards.
“This recognition reflects the hard work and commitment of all the partners involved and the strength of collaboration across the Harrogate system.
“We are proud of what has been achieved together, enabling more patients to die in their preferred place with dignity, compassion and support.”
Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 28 September 2026 at The Telford International Centre. The event shines a light on outstanding teams who are improving patient safety across health and care.
HELPSS Team Members
Clinical Leads: Kath Lambert, Charlotte Rock, Madeleine Locke, Rachel Reid, Rebecca Watt, Megan Atkinson.
Project Support: Natalie Jackson, Marcela Tellez-Glover
HELPSS is led by HDFT, in partnership with Saint Michael’s Hospice, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support and Social Finance.
For more details on the 2026 HSJ Patient Safety Awards shortlist, visit https://awards.patientsafetycongress.co.uk/shortlist-2026