Cornish care teams shortlisted for national award

Healthcare bosses said their new programme helped provide better care and reduce hospital admissions

Some of Cornwall's care teams have been nominated for a national award for helping more than 230,000 people.

Cornwall Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INT) are part of an NHS health programme to provide better care and reduce hospital admissions.

It has been shortlisted for the Integrated Care Initiative of the Year at the Health Service Journal Awards.

Kate Shields, CEO of NHS Cornwall Integrated Care Board, said it was a "proud moment" for the team.

She said Cornwall was "leading the way" with its neighbourhood teams, which were "a shining example" of the NHS' 10-year strategy.

Cornwall Integrated Care Board said the teams helped solve several "well-known challenges" including making care more joined up and reducing the time for ideas to be put into practice.

The county initially set up six INTs in 2024 in areas including Falmouth and Penryn, Truro, and St Austell.

It will now be expanded to 16 across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Katrina Percy, who co-developed and delivered the programme, said it empowered "frontline teams to lead the change".

She said the programme demonstrated what was "possible" when the NHS invested in "relationships, trust, and shared purpose".

Cornwall NHS said the awards were "the most prestigious recognition of healthcare excellence in the UK", with more than 1,250 entries.