WHIPPS Cross University Hospital have been short-listed for an award recognising their system of monitoring patients' journeys.

It was short listed in the ‘Adapt, Adopt and Improve’ category of the Health and Social Care Awards along with two other London trusts.

The software system called 'Jonah' was introduced at the Leytonstone hospital in February last year in order to improve the quality and timeliness of care for patients.

Deputy director of operations Jane Davies said: “Jonah monitors every patient’s journey and helps to stop delays in A&E where the focus is on treatment within the hour hour national target and when sending a patient home or back into care within the community.

“Any delay has a knock-on effect on the process of providing timely care to our patients and with the use of Jonah we have been able to improve a patient’s journey, analyse waiting times and act to try and prevent a delay before it happens.”

The Cross Buffer Team of nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, was short listed for the achievement in being one of the first trusts to set up the accredited system.

Director of operations Shona Brown said: “It is fantastic to be commended as a finalist in such a prestigious award and for our good work carried out so far with Jonah to be recognised - a great achievement.”

The Health and Social Care Awards are run in partnership between the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement and the Department of Health.

They have been running for eight years to celebrate innovation and excellence in frontline health and social care.