Cornwall Integrated Neighbourhood Teams collaboration shortlisted for national award

A Cornwall and Isles of Scilly health programme laying the foundations to provide more personalised and efficient care, reduce hospital admissions and improve health outcomes to around 230,000 local people has been recognised in the prestigious 2025 HSJ Awards.

The HSJ Awards entry for developing integrated neighbourhood teams (INT) within the Central Cornwall Integrated Care Area (ICA) is shortlisted for the Integrated Care Initiative of the Year.

The INT programme, co-developed by NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board’s Central Cornwall ICA and the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC), set out to rapidly establish and embed INTs across the Central area of Cornwall.

This year’s awards – said to be the most prestigious recognition of healthcare excellence in the UK – attracted more than 1,250 entries from across the health sector, and has a rigorous judging process.

Being shortlisted means the INT programme for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care System is recognised as a standout example of excellence in healthcare delivery, highlighting the exceptional work and innovation delivered by the team involved. It has recently been featured in the NHS 10 Year Plan as one of three areas around the country that is already showing how to build the neighbourhood health service.

Six INTs were initially created within the footprint of the six primary care networks in Central Cornwall ICA: Truro, St Austell, Watergate, Falmouth and Penryn, Coastal and Arbennek. The programme is now expanding with 16 INTs across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Work began in early 2024 with a clear focus: to build trust and shared purpose among frontline staff from a wide range of sectors. These included primary care, community health, mental health, social care, voluntary and community sector organisations, local authority and public health.

Kate Shields, Chief Executive Officer of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board said:

“What a proud moment for the team being shortlisted for this national award, I want to congratulate everyone who has been involved. It’s fantastic to be recognised among so many outstanding entries and is a real reflection of their passion and hard work.

“Here in Cornwall, we are leading the way with our integrated neighbourhood teams. With the delivery of coordinated and compassionate care in and closer to people’s homes, the INTs are a shining example of how we’re achieving the key shift from hospital to community as set out in the NHS 10 Year Plan.

“We are now expanding to 16 INTs across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and the benefits are already being felt by around a third of our population receiving more personalised and efficient care, reducing hospital admissions and improving health outcomes.”

Katrina Percy, Joint CEO of the National Association of Primary Care, who co-developed and delivered the programme, said:

“We are delighted to see Central Cornwall’s integrated neighbourhood teams shortlisted for this award. This work demonstrates what is possible when local systems invest in relationships, trust, and shared purpose across organisational boundaries.

“Our ambition was to move rapidly from strategy to action and empower frontline teams to lead the change. This shortlist is recognition of their incredible commitment to improving care for local communities.”

Scott Maslin and Jeremy Martin of the NAPC led action-focused workshops over a period of six months. This enabled teams to come together with shared energy to co-design new ways of working, deliver immediate improvements, and pave the way for proactive care.

The programme is unique in its ability to turn strategic plans into speedy frontline change, while creating practical insight for future system planning.

With the well-known challenges of high hospital demand, workforce and financial pressures, the INTs are helping to provide more joined up care for local people, reduce pressure on hospitals, and improve the experience of both patients and staff.

Dr Stewart Smith, Clinical Director in Central Cornwall ICA and local GP, said:

“We’re honoured to have been shortlisted for the Integrated Care Initiative of the Year at the national HSJ Awards. This work has united colleagues from across the NHS, social care and voluntary sector in Cornwall, focusing on how we can all work together more effectively to care for our communities.

“We have seen many examples of support for people to access the care they need as smoothly as possible – seamless working, reducing red tape and increasing staff morale, but most importantly, improving the quality and experience of care for many of our patients.

“The Central Cornwall ICA leadership team should be applauded for investing in the building blocks of integrated working in this way. However, it’s our colleagues on the ground who deserve the most praise for engaging with this work, united by wanting the best care for local residents.”

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in London on 20 November 2025. The event celebrates excellence in healthcare, promotes best practice, and recognises the people and projects improving outcomes for patients nationwide.

HSJ Editor, Alastair McLellan commented:

“On behalf of all my colleagues, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate Central Cornwall ICA and the NAPC on being shortlisted as a finalist in the category of Integrated Care Initiative of the Year. All of the applications represent the ‘very best of the NHS’ and often leave our esteemed panel of judges with an impossible choice!”