‘I would not be here without it’: Northamptonshire NHS service wins major national award

The trust, alongside Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, was named winner of the “Improving Mental Health in Digital” category at the HSJ Digital Awards 2026, held at the ICC in Birmingham on Tuesday May 19.

The award recognised the rollout of the Chat Mental Health messaging service in Northamptonshire, delivered through NHFT’s Integrated Response Hub, also known as the mental health number.

The 24-hour text-based support service was praised by judges for improving access to crisis support and offering discreet, inclusive care for people unable or unwilling to speak on the phone.

According to the trusts, the service now manages more than 600 conversations every month, helping reduce pressure on telephone lines while improving access to support.

Christine Edwards, service manager for the Integrated Response Hub at NHFT, said: “We are incredibly proud to have received the HSJ Digital Award.

“By removing barriers for those who are unable to use the telephone, we are now able to offer a truly inclusive, accessible service.”

Caroline Palmer, clinical lead for the Digital Health Transformation Service at LPT, said the award reflected the “commitment, hard work and dedication” behind the service and praised the partnership between the two NHS trusts.

An anonymous Northamptonshire service user described the support as “lifesaving”.

They said: “Talking on the phone can feel impossible. Sometimes I freeze or cannot get the words out.

“When the service became 24/7, it made a huge difference. A crisis does not stick to office hours, and having support at any time of day or night has kept me safe more than once.

“I would not be here without that.”

The HSJ Digital Awards received a record number of entries this year, recognising digital innovation across health and care services in the UK.