TWO east Lancashire health trusts have won prestigious gongs at the annual Health Service Journal (HSJ) awards.

NHS Blackburn with Darwen was presented with the top award for patient-centred care after impressing judges with its “healthy legs” clinic, while NHS East Lancashire was highly commended in the new category of world-class commissioning, for its Save a Million Years of Life (SMYL) campaign.

Both organisations are primary care trusts, which oversee community healthcare and fund every patient who visits hospital.

NHS Blackburn with Darwen’s Healthy Legs drop-in clinic was launched in February and is held at health centres throughout the borough.

Despite costing very little to set up, it is already estimated to have saved the NHS more than £500,000 through keeping a close eye on conditions including ulcers, circulatory problems and skin disorders and preventing potentially-fatal circulatory problems developing.

Judges said the innovation provided “seamless care”, as well as making big savings.

NHS Blackburn with Darwen chief executive Judith Griffin said: “This is a real credit to our frontline clinicians and the innovative services they deliver. It confirms our commitment to help local people live better and live longer with access to high quality health services.”

NHS East Lancashire made the final but was pipped to the post by NHS Tower Hamlets in the World Class Commissioning category. These awards recognise trusts which have worked with patients to provide the best care - including employing contractors from outside the NHS.

Judges said staff on the SMYL project, which aims to increase the life expectancy of all the 500,000 people in Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale and the Ribble Valley by two years by 2011, had worked hard to understand all aspects of health in small communities.

They said: “East Lancashire is delivering demonstrable improvements in life expectancy for a disadvantaged population.”

NHS East Lancashire chief executive David Peat said: “The HSJ awards are very prestigious and we were delighted to be recognised by the judges for the work we are doing.”