Excellence in Healthcare Collaboration and Partnerships

Summary of work

AstraZeneca and the Bristol Heart Institute’s Joint Working project, OneHeart, aims to improve self-management and adherence to prescribed therapies among Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) patients. 15 per cent of patients die within one year of their first ACS event¹ and 46 per cent of patients prescribed oral antiplatelets (OAP) stop using them within 12 months, more than doubling their likelihood of death or a non-fatal heart attack.²

In launching a new OAP treatment, AstraZeneca looked to truly partner with the NHS by viewing medicines as an opportunity to deliver a pioneering, outcomes-focused solution. Utilising health psychology research, this personalised, multimedia programme targets complex, unhelpful beliefs shown to be predictors of non-adherence.

OneHeart’s success demonstrates a pharma/NHS collaboration driving improved health outcomes in line with NHS objectives such as medicines optimisation – and is generating roll-out to a further 20 acute trusts.

Judges comments

A clear, well explained programme that is highly relevant, ambitious and creative for the long-term benefit of patients. We saw good evidence of genuine partnership, robust insights, process and validation and good tangible results to date. What was very clear was that they really thought about how to make this a proper partnership with everyone having joint roles. A fantastic entry that promises more results to come in the longer term.