North West London Hospital Trust reached the finals of the Health Service Journal Awards for its work in reducing avoidable deaths.

The nomination recognised the trust’s efforts to stop patients dying from community-acquired pneumonia – a chest infection people have a good chance of surviving if treated quickly.

It is estimated that its work has so far saved 49 lives.

This has been achieved by developing a manageable checklist for staff to use to ensure that all tests and treatments are given at the right time throughout a patient’s care.

The award ceremony took place last night and although it did not win the trust’s chief executive, David McVittie, said he was “delighted”.

Mr McVittie said: “We started work on this two years ago, with the aim of improving patient care.

“A subsequent review of 195 patients who were treated using the care bundle showed we reduced avoidable deaths by an impressive eight per cent.

“I am delighted that the care bundles are working so well and that our hard work has been recognised by the HSJ as a relatively simple but innovative way of reducing avoidable deaths.”