Published on: 22 October 2026
The Mental Health Liaison Team won the Productivity, Sustainability and Innovation Award Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s 2026 HEARTS Awards - Honouring Exceptional and Really Terrific Staff.
The Productivity, Sustainability and Innovation Award, sponsored by Patchwork, recognises a team or individual that has found new ways to deliver projects or services that demonstrate best value, encourage prevention and self-care, embrace technology or result in environmental improvements.
The team were recognised for developing the Liaison Assessment of Dementia quality improvement programme in response to growing demand for dementia assessments within acute hospitals following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Mental Health Liaison Team received the award during a ceremony on 21 October at Makeney Hall in Belper, joined by Derbyshire Healthcare colleagues.
With no national guidance specifically designed for liaison services, the team adapted existing standards to create a practical framework for consistent, high-quality dementia assessments. The approach supports timely diagnosis, safer discharge planning and better links to post-diagnostic and community support.
The service now supports around 360 acute dementia diagnoses each year. Its work has contributed to improved local dementia diagnosis rates while reducing delays, improving patient flow and helping people access the right assessment and support sooner.
The team introduced a dementia-specific assessment form, strengthened clinical processes and invested in workforce development. As a result, documentation showing that a diagnosis had been discussed doubled, referrals for post-diagnostic support increased from 10% to 74%, written information provision rose from 14% to 87%, and nurse-led assessments increased from 6% to 32%.
Importantly, the improvements have been achieved by making effective use of the workforce and resources already available, without requiring additional commissioned funding. The approach is now embedded in everyday working practices and has developed into an acute dementia diagnosis pathway recognised within the Joined Up Care Derbyshire Dementia Strategy.
The project has also attracted wider interest, with learning shared locally, regionally and nationally.
Kate Sales, Matron at Derbyshire Healthcare, who spoke on behalf of the team’s nomination, said: “The team really deserves this recognition because they have found an innovative way to respond to the growing need for dementia assessment within acute hospitals. They developed the Liaison Assessment of Dementia programme, creating a practical approach that supports consistent, high-quality dementia assessments, timely diagnosis and safer discharge planning.
“What particularly stands out is that they have achieved this by making the best use of the workforce and resources already available, rather than relying on additional commissioned resource. Their learning has been shared locally, regionally and nationally, showing that an innovation developed here in Derbyshire has the potential to influence dementia care much more widely.”
Helen Croft, Clinical Lead for the Mental Health Liaison Team, said: “It’s a real honour to win this award. I hope this recognition helps raise awareness of the vital role mental health liaison services play and, ultimately, helps us continue making a positive difference to the lives of people across our community.”
The team were presented with the award on 21 October at a ceremony at Makeney Hall in Belper.
