Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been named the best in the country for improving patient flow and improving value, efficiency and patient experience in the prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) Value in Healthcare awards.

The national awards recognised and rewarded outstanding efficiency and improvement by the NHS, while recognising excellent use of resources.

The award recognised improvements made by teams across the whole trust, resulting in the average length of stay reducing by two days with an estimated annual saving of around £6m.

Ben Owens, clinical director of the emergency department at the trust, which runs King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton; Newark Hospital; and services based at Mansfield Community Hospital and Ashfield Health Village, Kirkby, said: “It is such an honour to receive this award on behalf of staff across our trust.

“It demonstrates everyone’s commitment to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of care we give, so patients can enjoy a speedier recovery and go home as quickly as possible.

“Flow and avoiding patients being admitted to hospital in the first place is everyone’s job because it is proven to save lives.

“We all have a duty to constantly modify our practice for the safety of our patients and the future of the NHS.”

In the year to the end of March 2016, 102,000 people attended the King’s Mill emergency department.