An NHS-led project that helped GP practices and local people manage high blood pressure in Dorset has won a national HSJ Award.
NHS Dorset and local partners are celebrating after its blood pressure improvement programme, From Data Into Action, won the Data-Driven Transformation Award at the 2025 HSJ Awards, one of the healthcare sector’s most prestigious accolades.
The awards ceremony took place on 20 November at Evolution London, hosted by comedian Rob Brydon and attended by 1700+ healthcare professionals from across the UK. Now in its 45th year, the HSJ Awards celebrates outstanding achievements in health and social care, recognising teams and individuals who are driving innovation and improving patient outcomes.
The competition was strong this year, with 1,250 entries and 246 organisations, teams and individuals shortlisted. Finalists were judged on ambition, outcomes, spread, value and stakeholder involvement. Dorset’s project stood out for its clear focus on prevention, community engagement and the use of data to improve health outcomes.
The Dorset project From Data Into Action helped GP practices identify people at risk of high blood pressure earlier, offer timely support and help people manage their health at home.
By using local data in a smarter and more joined-up way, the programme helps clinicians spot early signs of risk and prevent serious conditions such as stroke and heart attack.
The programme was delivered by primary care teams across Dorset, supported by NHS Dorset’s Population Health Management team, the Dorset Intelligence & Insight Service (DiiS), Public Health Dorset and voluntary sector partners.
Janine Ord, Head of Population Health Management at NHS Dorset, said:
“It is a real honour to be shortlisted for a HSJ Award, let alone to win our category. This project shows how we can improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities for local people.
“It highlights the power of data, and how digital tools can help prevent strokes and heart attacks by supporting people to manage their blood pressure at home.
“We want to thank all our GP practices and partners for their hard work and commitment. This award is a result of their joint effort.”
It was also a strong night for other local NHS areas, with teams across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, and Somerset recognised for their work.
BSW ICB won the Innovation and Improvement in Reducing Healthcare Inequalities Award for their ‘Well Farmers for Wiltshire’ campaign, and colleagues from Somerset Foundation Trust and the Somerset Open Mental Health VCFSE Alliance received the Mental Health Innovation of the Year Award for their ‘Somerset Open Mental Health’ service.
The full list of winners is available at: Winners 2025 | HSJ Awards
Other relevant articles:
NHS-led project that helps GP practices has been shortlisted for a HSJ Award – NHS Dorset
