Children’s health programme named London winner in NHS Excellence Awards
A neighbourhood-based children’s health programme developed in Lambeth has been named London regional winner in the NHS Excellence Awards 2026, recognising its success in improving care for children and young people while reducing health inequalities.
Evelina London’s CHILDS model (Child Health Integrated Learning and Delivery System) won the regional award in the Neighbourhood health category.
Quicker access to specialist health advice
The CHILDS model brings health services closer to home by joining up GP practices, paediatricians and nurses into neighbourhood child health teams. Every local GP practice in Lambeth and Southwark now has access to a dedicated team, giving children and families quicker access to specialist advice without the need for hospital appointments wherever possible.
Since 2021, more than seven per cent of children and young people in Lambeth and Southwark have been discussed through these teams. For around 70% of these, specialist advice is provided directly to their GP, avoiding a hospital visit. Where children do need to be seen, clinics are often held in GP surgeries or community settings, which parents say they prefer.
Early support for children with long term conditions
Alongside this, the programme offers targeted early support for children with long term conditions such as asthma, eczema and constipation. Children are identified through GP records and offered health checks, with practical support for families and extra nursing care when needed. The approach has been particularly successful in reaching families living in the most deprived areas, and improving outcomes for children with poorly controlled conditions.
A story of impact
The impact on children and young people has been remarkable, with a 36% drop in GP appointments needed, a reduction of 27% in A&E attendance, and 29% fewer unplanned hospital admissions in the group cared for under this model. It has increased symptom control in 90% of patients with initially uncontrolled asthma and successfully used health records to identify and offer health checks to children who may have undiagnosed asthma.
A story of partnership
The work sits at the heart of Lambeth Together’s Children and Young People Alliance, which brings together health, local authority, education, voluntary and community partners to improve outcomes for children and families across the borough.
Simon Boote, Director of the Children and Young People Alliance in Lambeth, said:
“This award recognises the power of neighbourhood working and partnership. By focusing on early help, listening to families and joining up services around the whole child, CHILDS shows how we can improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for children and young people in our borough.”
Spreading best practice
The NHS Excellence Awards shine a light on projects that are making a real difference for patients and communities, supporting the ambitions of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan and inspiring others to adopt innovative approaches in their local areas.
Eleanor Wyllie, CHILDS programme manager at Evelina London, said:
“We’re delighted to have been selected as a regional champion, and hugely proud that materials developed by CHILDS have been shared within south east London, regionally and nationally, to support adoption of this model more widely. We’re really looking forward to attending the NHS Excellence Awards ceremony in June and hope to see the team’s fantastic work being recognised on a national stage.”
As a London regional winner, the CHILDS programme will go on to take part in the national NHS Excellence Awards, with the final winners announced later this summer.