The ambulance service for Andover has been shortlisted as the NHS Trust of the Year in recognition of its work in the past year.

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) has been shortlisted in the HSJ Awards 2021 in recognition of the contribution made by the organisation and its staff to regional, national and global healthcare.

Will Hancock, chief executive of SCAS, said: “We are thrilled to be shortlisted for these distinguished national awards, particularly as the Trust of Year encompasses all of the work we have been doing and our partnerships – including with the military and neighbouring trusts – are so valuable to us and our patients.

“This recognition really does reflect the collaborative efforts and dedication of colleagues across SCAS and within our partner organisations and it is a wonderful achievement for everyone involved to make the shortlist.

“I want to say a personal thank you to all of our staff and volunteers for helping us get there – each and every one of them should be immensely proud of the role they have played in achieving this recognition.”

Developments the trust has been responsible for over the past few years include the urgent care pathways project, where ambulance clinicians help assess and treat patients over the phone or in their homes when receiving 111 or 999 calls.

They help decide which treatment would benefit the patient most, and where, which has so far seen more than 30,000 people avoid unnecessary transfers to emergency departments.

It has led to many patients being treated at home, referred onto their GP, transported to a treatment centre or admitted directly into a specialist hospital service covering medical, surgical, paediatric, respiratory, frailty or mental health needs – by-passing busy emergency departments.

The trust has also been nominated in the Military and Civilian Health Partnership category for its work with military volunteers to help respond to emergencies in their communities.

HSJ editor Alistair McLellan said: “On behalf of all my colleagues I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate SCAS on being nominated in the categories of Trust of the Year and Military and Civilian Health Partnership in this year’s HSJ Awards.

“The applications we receive always present our panel of judges with a very difficult task as the standard is unfailingly high and the breadth of innovation and passion for patient care is always so inspiring.

“This year we really have been overwhelmed with the level of entries, particularly when set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and the huge challenges faced by our health and social care workforce.”