An innovative initiative called Little Voices has achieved recognition as a regional champion at the inaugural NHS Excellence Awards. This project, spearheaded by the Patient Experience Team at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, won the award in the Patient Involvement and Choice category. This honor highlights efforts aimed at enhancing patient care and community engagement.
Little Voices Initiative
Little Voices aims to involve children in improving hospital services. Pupils from Pelsall Village School visit Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust to share their insights and ideas. These visits enable hospital staff to understand better how they can create a safer and more welcoming clinical environment for young patients.
Process and Impact
The Little Voices initiative will have ongoing visits throughout the year, allowing students to witness how their suggestions lead to tangible service improvements. Due to its success, the program will also be expanded to The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. This initiative exemplifies the importance of child engagement in healthcare.
NHS Excellence Awards
The NHS Excellence Awards are unique, as they are both organized by and for the NHS. These awards showcase innovative projects that significantly enhance health and care services. Over 400 entries were submitted from the Midlands district across ten categories.
| Category | Regional Champion |
|---|---|
| Patient Involvement and Choice | Little Voices, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust |
The ten regional champions selected will proceed to the national shortlist. Winners will be unveiled at the NHS ConfedExpo ceremony scheduled for June 2026 in Manchester.
Reactions and Recognition
Garry Perry, the Associate Director of Patient Voice (Experience) at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, expressed pride in the recognition received by Little Voices. He emphasized the program’s success in integrating the perspectives of children, which has led to meaningful improvements in service quality and patient experiences.
Dr. Jessica Sokolov, Regional Medical Director for NHS England – Midlands, commended the remarkable work being done across the Midlands. She stated that these awards highlight local projects making significant impacts on patients and communities, congratulating all recognized teams and individuals.
