Launched in 2008, the Lean Healthcare Conference and Awards has become the annual national forum for sharing best practice and rewarding members from the healthcare sector for adopting and sustaining service improvement methodologies.  The session brings together health professionals from across the country involved in service improvement and patient care, attracting in excess of 200 high-profile delegates.

Entry to the Awards is open to organisations either in the UK or further afield. There are eight categories in the competition: Best Impact on Patient Experience, Sustained Improvement, Lean Champion of the Year, The Productive Series, Embracing Technology, Sharing Best Practice, Improving Services through Training and Development, and The People's Choice Award, which is voted for on the day of the gathering.

Entrants will be expected to demonstrate the specific benefits of waste-reduction techniques in the healthcare setting, showing the successful application and sustainability of service improvement techniques and the positive outcomes for both patients and staff.  Like last year, finalists, who will be announced on 06 January, will be asked to exhibit their projects at the Conference. The goal is for them to demonstrate how their service-improvement techniques can bring real benefits to healthcare organisations across all disciplines.