A ‘SUPER group’ of GP practices which involves several across the district has won a coveted accolade.

The Modality Partnership – in conjunction with Healthy.io – was a winner in the Primary Care Innovation of the Year category in the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards.

They were recognised for their collaborative work on an innovative smartphone-enabled home-based screening service to provide early detection of albumin in urine for diabetic patients at risk of renal disease.

The HSJ Awards, now in their 39th year, are among the top honours in the healthcare sector.

A presentation ceremony took place at the Battersea Evolution Centre, London, hosted by HSJ editor Alistair McLellan and actor James Nesbitt.

Judges praised the Modality Partnership and Healthy.io for their “ambition, visionary spirit and the demonstrable positive impact” that the project has had on patient and staff experiences.

Dr Debbie Livesey – a GP partner and research and workforce development officer with Modality Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven – said: “We were absolutely thrilled to be named as a winner in the awards.

“It means a great deal to all our staff to be recognised in this way and we’re confident that the positive impact of this award will help to create a long-lasting legacy.

“The award is recognition of the benefits that we have achieved by working together as Modality practices, across Yorkshire and the Humber, with like-minded people at Healthy.io – using smartphone technology in an exciting way, making good-quality care more accessible and more convenient to our diabetic patients whilst saving GP practices time to care for all our patients.

“This award will provide a tremendous boost to both staff and patients at Modality Partnership and I am sure it will bolster our efforts to develop and continually improve our services.”

Modality Partnership practices are sited across South Craven, Keighley, and in Haworth and Oakworth.

Katherine Ward, chief commercial officer at Healthy.io, said she was delighted the project had received recognition.

“We are thrilled that our transformation of the smartphone camera into a clinical-grade medical device to enable people to check their kidneys from the comfort of their own homes has been recognised as primary care innovation of the year,” she added.