Operose Health, December 2025
Operose Health has been shortlisted for HSJ Independent Healthcare Providers Awards 2026 in the category ‘Best Provider of Community and Primary Care’, recognising organisations delivering high-quality, neighbourhood focused primary care services that improve access, outcomes and patient experience.
The shortlisted submission, “Care closer to the community: Proactive outreach to improve access, outcomes and experience for underserved groups”, was selected following a rigorous judging process and has been recognised as a standout example of excellence in healthcare delivery.
The 2026 awards judging panel was made up of a diverse range of highly influential and respected figures within the healthcare community, including; Jatinder Garcha, Regional Director of Strategy and Commissioning - PH, NHS England - East of England, Simon Evans, Group Chief Strategy Officer, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Clare Burns, Executive Director of Partnerships, NELFT, Tonye Sikabofori, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Ade Odunlade, Chief Operating Officer, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
The shortlisted submission, “Care closer to the community: Proactive outreach to improve access, outcomes and experience for underserved groups”, highlights Operose Health’s work to deliver joined-up, proactive primary care. By leveraging data and quality improvement methodologies, teams identify underserved populations, target interventions and deliver measurable improvements in access, outcomes and experience.
Operose Health’s model supports the NHS 10-year Plan and ambition of personalised care closer to home, with a strong focus on early intervention, seamless coordination across neighbourhood teams and sustained improvements in patient experience. Initiatives include proactive outreach, community-based clinics, home visiting, case management and extended access, helping people with complex or long-term needs remain well in their communities and reducing avoidable hospital demand.
Samantha Kane, CEO of Operose Health has said:
“Being shortlisted for this award is something we’re incredibly proud of because it recognises the work our teams do every day to bring care closer to the communities we serve. Across Operose Health, colleagues are using data, insight and deep local knowledge to reach people who are too often underserved, improving access, outcomes and experiences while helping patients stay well at home.
But this recognition is about more than systems or statistics.
It reflects our belief that great care is built on trust, compassion and collaboration, with general practice at the heart of joined-up neighbourhood teams. Our colleagues continue to push boundaries, work seamlessly with partners and reimagine what primary care can be, and this shortlisting is a testament to their commitment, ambition and care for patients and communities.”
Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 19th March 2026. The event celebrates excellence in healthcare, promotes best practice, and recognises the people and projects improving outcomes for patients nationwide.
For more details on the 2026 HSJ Independent Healthcare Providers Awards shortlist, visit partnership.hsj.co.uk/independent-healthcare-providers-awards
ENDS
Notes to editors
For more information/media enquiries relating to the 2026 HSJ Independent Healthcare Providers Awards, please contact Rebecca Bright on rebecca.bright@hsj.co.uk or tel: +44 020 7608 9056.
About Operose Health
Operose Health is a trusted NHS primary care partner focused on improving access, outcomes and patient experience for the communities it serves. Working in partnership with NHS England, Integrated Care Boards and local health systems, Operose Health delivers modern, resilient primary care at scale while maintaining a strong local focus.
Operose Health cares for more than 700,000 registered patients through a network of GP practices, primary care hubs, urgent care and specialist services across England. Its multidisciplinary teams use data-driven insight, innovation and operational excellence to increase capacity, reduce health inequalities and support sustainable primary care.
For more information, visit www.operosehealth.co.uk.
About the HSJ Awards
The HSJ Independent Healthcare Providers Awards serve as a benchmark of excellence and offering IHPs a prestigious opportunity to influence the broader healthcare agenda, ensuring their integral role in a more integrated and productive healthcare system.
About HSJ
The Health Service Journal is the only title to cover all aspects of publicly funded healthcare, providing news, analysis, best practise information from some of the most powerful and respected figures in health. The HSJ audience is formed of healthcare leaders from both clinical and non-clinical backgrounds and both public and private sectors.