Locala's ‘Clinic in a Van’, which is supplied by EMS, and provides health services to communities across West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester has been shortlisted for an award.  

The van has been used to offer a variety of vital services: sexual health; GP clinics and wound care for people experiencing homelessness; and drop-in sessions for childhood immunisations. In seven weeks, 300 clinical interventions were delivered, highlighting how mobile clinics can redress health inequalities by giving wider access to marginalised populations. 

The project has been shortlisted in the category 'Most Impactful Project Addressing Health Inequalities' by the UK’s foremost celebration of collaboration in healthcare – the Health Service Journal Partnership Awards 2024.

Speaking about the Clinic in a Van project, Victoria Vallance, Locala’s Chief Nurse, said: “We are constantly looking for new ways to help people in our communities access health and wellbeing services as easily as possible, and this has already proved to be an exciting way of doing just that.” 

Locala's Whitehouse Centre GP Practice regularly uses the van to provide an outreach service and Katie Saunders, Office Manager, added: “One of the key ways it is helping is reducing the number of people going to A&E or calling for an ambulance. That’s because they know that we’re here and they can come along and get the healthcare support they need.” 

Cassie Kendrew, Chief Commercial Officer at EMS Healthcare, said: “We are committed to supporting our partners in taking care into the heart of communities, where mobile clinics are making a significant difference to patients’ lives and the wellbeing of hard-to-reach communities. We look forward to the judges’ final decision with excitement and anticipation!” 

The HSJ Partnership Awards was developed with NHS organisations across the country, to showcase the best work coming from the independent sector, and to celebrate their successes.  The awards ceremony takes place at Evolution in London, on March 21st, 2024.