AN East Cheshire NHS Trust partnership has been recognised as one of the best examples of efficiency and improvement in the NHS at a recent national healthcare awards ceremony.

East Cheshire NHS Trust and avarto UK, who operate the trust’s HR shared service centre, were named winners of the Value and Improvement through Outsourcing award at the Health Journal’s Value in Healthcare Awards in London on September 23.

They clinched the accolade for the transformation of the delivery of HR service at the trust over the past year.

Judges said they were impressed with the ‘amazing cultural change’ that had taken place at East Cheshire NHS Trust, delivering ‘demonstrable benefits’ to employees and patients.

Rachael Charlton, director of HR and OD at East Cheshire Trust, said: “All NHS organisations are under intense pressure to deliver better outcomes while spending less, and this award is a testament to the progress that can be made if you’re not afraid to take a fresh approach.

“Forming a strong partnership with arvato has helped us to deliver some major improvements which are ultimately benefiting people in Cheshire by allowing us to reinvest in patient care.”