Cornwall NHS Trust Shortlisted for National Patient Safety Award

Bodmin to Benefit First from New Wayfinding System

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s Patient Experience Team has been named a finalist in the 2025 Health Service Journal (HSJ) Patient Safety Awards.

The Trust is shortlisted in the Learning Disabilities Initiative of the Year category, thanks to a unique signage project designed to improve navigation around hospitals for people with learning disabilities.

The project is called “It started with a conversation on Bassett Street”, after a meeting that sparked the whole idea.

‘It started with a conversation on Bassett Street’

Cilla Long, a patient experience officer at the Trust, recalled how the project came about:
“Several years ago, I was invited to a meeting with the CHAMPs in Camborne, at an office on Bassett Street.

“Many of the CHAMPs fed back to us that our hospital signage was confusing. They said that the wayfinding was often ineffective and is a barrier for accessing healthcare.

“It often left patients getting lost and then being late, or missing appointments. The CHAMPs explained that it takes away independence from people with a learning disability who want to maintain their freedom.

“I knew I could help. This is where ‘it started with a conversation on Bassett Street’ came from.”

CHAMPs Take the Lead

The CHAMPs are a group of seven people with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum conditions who worked directly with the Trust’s team to design better signage. Their lived experience shaped the new wayfinding system.

Zoe Locke, Patient Experience Team Manager, said:
“We got the CHAMPs involved in the project as people with a learning disability often see things differently. Those with lived experience are best placed to take ownership and help us make decisions.”

Accessible and Adaptable Design

The signs are printed on wipeable, transferrable vinyl so they can be moved easily if a service changes location. Zoe added:
“The signage has a matte finish. This aids accessibility for those with a visual impairment. The CHAMPs also suggested we colour code arrows to help with navigation.”

Ben Law and Nicky Jones, both CHAMPs, helped place the first batch of signs in Bodmin Hospital. They advised on where they should go to make it easy for people to find their way. The signs are now in place across all community hospitals and some outdoor clinical areas.

Cilla said:
“The first signs were placed in Bodmin Hospital. Ben and Nicky showed us where they should go for people to be able to understand and follow.”

Finalists for a National Award

The national recognition follows a rigorous judging process involving healthcare leaders and patient safety experts. The HSJ Patient Safety Awards aim to highlight individuals and teams making a real difference across the NHS.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Manchester Central on 15th September 2025, where hundreds of healthcare professionals from across the UK will gather to celebrate this year’s achievements.