Ramsay Health Care UK and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are celebrating a fantastic win at the 2026 HSJ Partnership Awards, taking home the ‘Best Elective Care Recovery Initiative’ for their forward thinking public–private partnership.
Together, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals FT and Clifton Park Hospital, part of Ramsay Health Care UK, have built a truly innovative insourcing model to tackle orthopaedic waiting lists head on. By creating an “elective hub” at Clifton Park, the partnership is ensuring patients across the region benefit from fair, fast and high quality access to NHS orthopaedic care. This collaboration has expanded local capacity, improved flow on the NHS pathway, and delivered real, measurable improvements for patients.
A key milestone in the partnership was the introduction of a new modular theatre in 2022, supported through a joint bid to the NHSE Targeted Investment Fund. Since launch, the elective hub has helped around 1,500 patients each year, showcasing the real impact that strong public private collaboration can deliver for local communities.
The Awards ceremony brought together more than 1,200 healthcare leaders in London to celebrate innovation, partnership, and excellence across the NHS and independent sector. Hosted by actor and comedian Tom Davis, the evening highlighted outstanding teamwork and the power of joint working to improve patient care.
The judging panel recognised this initiative as “taking a genuinely fresh approach to working with the private sector, this partnership significantly reduced waiting times for patients who had long been left waiting, proving that the right collaboration can move numbers that the NHS has long struggled to shift”
Reflecting on the achievement, Chief Executive Officer Nick Costa said:“This award is a fantastic recognition of the meaningful difference that strong local partnerships can make for patients in the York area. I’m incredibly proud of our teams - whose dedication, expertise and commitment ensure we continue to deliver exceptional care and outstanding patient experiences.”
The judging panel recognised this initiative as “taking a genuinely fresh approach to working with the private sector, this partnership significantly reduced waiting times for patients who had long been left waiting, proving that the right collaboration can move numbers that the NHS has long struggled to shift”
Claire Hansen, Chief Operating Officer at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is a really positive result for patients across our area. By working in partnership with Ramsay Health Care UK and Clifton Park Hospital, we’ve been able to increase capacity and help more people access the surgical care they need more quickly, reducing waiting times and improving patient experience.
This award recognises the hard work and commitment of teams across both organisations and shows what’s possible when we work together with a shared focus on delivering high-quality care for our communities.”
