The NHS Excellence awards announced its 2026 regional champions with Greater Manchester picking up five awards.
Following regional judging, regional champions have been selected for each award category. They will now go through to the next stage of national judging with national champions announced at the NHS ConfedExpo on Wednesday 10 June.
The NHS Excellence Awards 2026 are run by, and for, the NHS, shining a light on local projects and teams who are making a real difference to patients and communities, delivering on the ambitions of the 10 Year Health Plan and inspiring others to adopt innovative approaches in their local area.
The ECO4 Flex Health Referral Pathways funded by NHS Greater Manchester was named the regional winner for the North West in the Sustainable Healthcare category.
The initiative was recognised for its innovative approach to tackling fuel poverty as a driver of ill health. By embedding housing and energy support into NHS pathways, the programme links healthcare professionals with fully funded home energy improvements. This delivers measurable health benefits, reduces demand on NHS services and supports the NHS Net Zero commitment through system‑wide partnership working.
The Working in Partnership Award was awarded to Greater Manchester Urgent Primary Care Alliance, for bringing providers together across the system to improve access, coordination and consistency in urgent primary care. The collaboration was recognised for continually improving patient outcomes and enhancing the lives of residents within Greater Manchester, whilst easing pressure on emergency services
With ten categories in total, Greater Manchester has been listed in half of the regional winner categories, highlighting the strength and breadth of innovation across the system.
Also picking up regional awards include:
Delivering Value Award
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and Pennine Care NHS.
Care Close, Care Smarter: improved patient flow across mental health services by redesigning pathways, reducing delays and ensuring people receive the right care in the right place.
Digital Innovation Award
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Digitally Transforming Dialysis: A new digital system that allows dialysis machines to automatically share patient information with the Trust’s electronic patient record, making care safer, more efficient, and reducing the need for manual data entry.
Improving Health Outcomes Award
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
‘Let’s Talk Boobs’ a project focused on improving health outcomes for women with learning disabilities through open conversations and education around breast health.
Professor Colin Scales, Acting Chief Executive of NHS Greater Manchester said: “It’s fantastic to see the outstanding work taking place across Greater Manchester recognised through these regional awards. The power of collaboration is essential in improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities, these projects show how innovation and sustainability can deliver real benefits, more joined‑up care for patients whilst making the best possible use of public resources.”
Rachael Ingram, GMUPCA UEC Programme Lead, Mastercall Healthcare Head of Clinical Operations, Stockport said: “We’re so proud to announce that the Greater Manchester Urgent Primary Care Alliance (GMUPCA) has won an NHS Excellence Award for Working in Partnership naming them as a regional champion for:
Working closely with NHS Trusts, the GM Integrated Care Board and North West Ambulance Service, to design and deliver system‑wide services that reduce pressure on urgent and emergency care and ensure patients receive the right care first time.
These award‑winning programmes include the 24/7 GM Clinical Assessment Service, which handles over 200,000 cases a year, managing approximately 600 cases per day, saving over 91,000 ambulance response hours annually and safeguarding the NHS purse.
Other initiatives include the GM Emergency Dental Helpline and winter initiatives such as the GM Falls Response Service (as well as wider digital infrastructure offerings).
This award recognises the power of true partnership, shared leadership and collaboration to improve patient outcomes at scale across GM.”
