A pioneering partnership between the NHS in Lincolnshire and DMC Healthcare has been celebrated with two prestigious national awards at the 2025 HSJ Independent Healthcare Providers Awards and the HSJ Partnership Awards.
The partnership made up of NHS Lincolnshire ICB, United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the Lincolnshire Elective Activity Coordination Hub, and DMC Healthcare was successful in winning Best Elective Care Recovery Initiative and Best Insourcing Initiative by an Independent Healthcare Provider, both of which recognise the same collaborative project aimed at tackling and reducing the dermatology patient waiting list following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, the award for Best Elective Care Recovery Initiative recognises the outstanding collaboration between the partners who worked together to address the dermatology waiting list in Lincolnshire following the COVID-19 pandemic, which had surged to nearly 10,500 patients, with wait times exceeding 100 weeks then reduced to 24 weeks.
The award for Best Insourcing Initiative by an Independent Healthcare Provider highlights the partners’ work alongside the Lincolnshire Elective Activity Coordination Hub, a centralised service, to validate the entire waiting list. DMC Healthcare provided comprehensive support from the initial assessment to discharge for nearly 3,000 patients confirmed for treatment.
The awards attracted a total of 217 entries and 28 award categories spanned both ceremonies, with the evening highlighting the dedication and innovation driving improvements in patient care.
Clair Raybould, Executive Director for System Delivery, NHS Lincolnshire ICB said:
“To receive not one, but two HSJ awards is a tremendous achievement and shows the close working within the Lincolnshire system and our partners DMC Healthcare. The teams have put in a lot of hard work and effort to achieve the impressive results they have. We are continually looking at ways to improve our services across the county and these awards are a testament to that.
“I would like to extend my congratulations to all of the people who contributed to this fantastic achievement – thank you and well done.”
Laura Odlin, Dermatology Clinical Service Manager at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said:
“I am extremely proud of the team for achieving two prestigious HSJ awards. They are a wonderful team that has worked incredibly hard with our partners to improve the waiting times and the overall patient experience. Both awards mean so much to the team and it’s fantastic to be recognised nationally.”
Anil Gupta, Group Managing Director at DMC Healthcare, added:
“We are absolutely delighted to have been recognised with both the HSJ Partnership Award and the HSJ Independent Healthcare Provider Award. These accolades are a reflection of what can be achieved through true partnership working and a shared commitment to delivering better care for patients. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our trusted partners at NHS Lincolnshire ICB and United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Their collaboration, trust, and steadfast dedication over the years have been instrumental in driving this success. A special thank you also to our own teams, who have worked hand-in-hand with Lincolnshire colleagues, a true collaboration for the benefit of the patients we all serve. It was a real pleasure to celebrate this achievement together at the HSJ Awards a fitting recognition of the positive impact we can make when we work together towards a common goal.”