Moorfields team recognised at HSJ Awards

The Moorfields Eye Hospital single point of access service (SPoA) has been recognised at the 2024 Health Service Journal Awards.

The SPoA teamwere presented with the award on 21 November by National Institute of Health and Care Excellence chief executive, Sam Roberts, and comedian, Dara Ó’Briain.

The service, which has processed more than 29,000 referrals in north central and north east London, received the award for Acute Sector Innovation of the Year.

The SPoA service represents a partnership between Moorfields, Royal Free London, North Central London, the Local Optical Committee Support Unit and NHS England.

Peter Thomas, executive director of digital discovery at Moorfields, described the award as an “honour.”

“It’s a credit to the amazing team between Moorfields and the Royal Free who have worked so hard to build a service that's changing eye care from such tiny beginnings just two years ago,” he said.

“We've shown that by collaborating across trusts, professions, organisations and sectors we can drive real change and help so many patients to receive better, faster care,” Thomas highlighted.

Through the service, community optometrists refer non-emergency patients to the SPoA. Patients are then referred to a suitable ophthalmology provider.