As 2025 comes to a close, we’re delighted to recognise the achievements of our NHS colleagues with the sixth annual Consultant Connect Awards.
As well as the glory of victory, all winners receive a donation to a charity of their choice. There are two categories:
- Best Overall Projects
- Special Achievement – click here to find out the winners
Best Overall Projects 2025
And the winners are:
WINNER for Biggest Growth:
Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust
We would like to congratulate the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust (WAST) as our winner of the Biggest Growth Award for 2025. Since the launch of Consultant Connect Advice & Guidance (A&G) in Wales in 2020, WAST clinicians have made more than 195,000 calls, with 90% answered the first time and within an average of 7 seconds.
WAST has shown exceptional momentum over the past year, achieving 22% year-on-year growth and placing nearly 60,000 calls in the last 12 months alone. Impressively, 40% of calls to acute specialties resulted in patients avoiding unnecessary hospital conveyances or admissions.
Last month, WAST clinicians made a record-breaking 5,500 calls, demonstrating the service’s deep integration into day-to-day clinical practice. WAST continues to push forward with innovation, launching three new telephone pathways in a single week.
WAST has a clear vision, strong engagement, and has already made a significant impact – one we can’t wait to see develop further in 2026.
‘WAST’s achievements show what is possible when a service fully embraces an innovative solution like Consultant Connect to transform patient flow and clinical outcomes. Their results reflect thousands of patients receiving the right care, in the right place, first time, and I’m excited to see how WAST continue to lead the way in 2026.’ – Harriet Leslie, Account Manager and Governance Officer at Consultant Connect.
WINNER for Project Expansion:
NHS Greater Manchester
With the Enhanced A&G project launching in autumn 2025, we’re delighted to announce NHS Greater Manchester as the ‘Project Expansion’ winner for this year. The ICB-wide project provides more than 2,000 GPs across Greater Manchester with rapid access to Telephone and Photo Messaging A&G from NHS consultants across the UK.
By drawing on national expertise, the project ensures that local specialists can focus on patients who truly require hospital care, thereby helping to reduce waiting times and supporting a more effective use of local workforce capacity. Every patient receives the right advice the first time, without adding pressure to local services.
The expansion builds on the proven success of A&G initiatives in Oldham and Salford, and all 10 areas within the ICB are now benefitting from the service.
This achievement is a testament to the exceptional leadership and collaboration of local champions Sian Goodwin, Dan Gordon, and Dr John Patterson, whose commitment has been central to the project’s outstanding early success.
‘This really is a fantastic project; the learnings taken from the service in Oldham and Salford have really put the ICB-wide initiative in a great position to ensure this is a successful rollout.’ – Patrick Keys, Account Manager at Consultant Connect.
WINNER for Referral Triage – Multiple Specialties:
Countess of Chester Hospital
We are delighted to announce the Countess of Chester Hospital as the winner of our ‘Referral Triage – Multiple Specialties’ Award for 2025. The team’s commitment has supported a fast mobilisation within their referral triage project, embracing pathway efficiency suggestions and expanding the programme from the outset. Nearly 5,000 referrals have been triaged across ENT, vascular, and dermatology, resulting in measurable pathway improvements and enhanced patient prioritisation. Specifically, 16% of ENT referrals, 33% of vascular referrals, and 14% of dermatology referrals were safely returned to primary care with comprehensive management plans.
A further 63% of dermatology referrals were identified as suitable for a tier 2 community service if one were available, highlighting clear opportunities for future efficiency and redesigned care pathways.
All remaining referrals were clinically prioritised according to urgency and directed to the appropriate pathway, ensuring patients receive timely and suitable care.
‘This has been a really engaging project to work on with regular meetings and looking to increase volumes and move into other specialities for referral triage. Due to the high engagement, we have also resolved any issues quickly and efficiently.’ – Nisha Chauhan, Account Manager at Consultant Connect.
WINNER for Referral Triage – One Specialty:
Hywel Dda University Health Board
We are delighted to announce Hywel Dda University Health Board (HD) as the winner of this year’s ‘Referral Triage – One Specialty’ Award. Utilising the clinical expertise of the National Consultant Network (NCN), an initial backlog, and then all new-in, of more than 7,000 dermatology referrals have been triaged, resulting in 29% being returned to primary care with detailed A&G to support ongoing management.
The remaining referrals were prioritised according to clinical need:
- 5% downgraded
- 11% upgraded
- 55% unchanged in priority
The triage process ran smoothly throughout, supported by regular meetings that tracked progress, shared feedback, and ensured consistent quality. Consultants conducted the triage in line with Welsh guidance and adhered fully to local processes, ensuring safe and equitable patient management across the health board.
‘Having started back in 2023 to support the clearance of the initial backlog, we’ve continued to work with HD to support both backlogs and all of their new-in referrals. This ongoing monthly support allows the rapid triaging of all new referrals, ensuring patients are prioritised appropriately and quickly. Working with the team in the health board is an absolute pleasure, and we look forward to the continued partnership across the coming years.’ – Lucy Sammons, Joint Managing Director at Consultant Connect.
* All data relates to calls and photo messages where an outcome was reported, and data is correct as of December 2025
Contact us for more information:
If you have any questions, or would like more information about our projects, call us on 01865 951 207 or email hello@consultantconnect.org.uk.
