We are delighted to share the news that we have been named as the winners of the Commissioning for Better Experience of Care category at the Picker Experience Network (PEN) Awards 2026, recognising our innovative Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) Identification Hub, designed to improve detection of one of the UK’s most underdiagnosed inherited conditions.
Held at the University of Birmingham on 1 October 2026, the PEN Awards 2026 brought together a community dedicated to improving experiences for patients, families and staff across health and social care.
The PEN Awards are the first and only awards programme to recognise best practice in patient experience across all facets of health and social care in the UK and beyond. The awards celebrate projects, teams, individuals and initiatives that have made an exceptional contribution to care, engagement, service delivery and wellbeing, from the perspective of patients, carers, families and staff.
This year’s awards attracted entries from across the UK and internationally, with winners selected by an independent judging panel.
We were delighted to win the 'Commissioning for Better Experience of Care' award category for our Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) Identification Hub, which is based at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals and works to identify people at highest risk of having this inherited high cholesterol condition across Norfolk and Waveney.
Using digital case finding, remote specialist review and genetic testing, our FH Identification Hub proactively identifies people at risk of FH across Norfolk and Waveney and provides faster access to assessment and treatment closer to home.
The judges commended the project, noting that: “This initiative is innovative, collaborative and transferable, with a strong focus on tackling health inequalities and streamlining processes for the benefit of both patients, service users and staff.
Proactive identification is a strong example of preventative healthcare and engagement with service users and families, as well as a clear dissemination model for communicating the success of this approach to other staff, all demonstrate how this project has been effectively planned and communicated throughout
PEN26 Awards Judging Panel
Accepting the award on behalf of the team, Dr Javier Gomez, Consultant Chemical Pathologist at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals said: "This award is a wonderful recognition of our Teamwork and Commitment to deliver a truly patient-centred care.
It reflects the positive impact of early diagnosis of FH, personalised support, and collaborative service delivery in improving outcomes and experiences for individuals and families affected by Familial Hypercholesterolaemia across our region.
Dr Javier Gomez, on winning the PEN26 Commissioning for Better Experience of Care Award
About the FH Identification Hub
The Norfolk and Waveney Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) Identification Hub was developed through a partnership between East Genomics, Norfolk and Suffolk ICB, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS FT, primary care leaders, Health Innovation East and patients.
The Service was established using a population health management approach and uses validated risk-stratification tools to proactively identify people most likely to have FH from primary care records and offer streamlined access to specialist assessment and genomic testing.
The hub helped close to 700 people with high cholesterol in its first 18 months and has achieved a 19% genetic diagnostic yield, substantially higher than conventional pathways, while reducing costs by 42%, enabling more people to be identified and treated.
As a result of the Hub's, patients across Norfolk and Waveney are getting faster access to assessment, fewer unnecessary appointments, improved understanding of inherited cardiovascular risk, and convenient specialist support closer to home. Inclusive, multilingual digital tools improve accessibility, reduce pressure on primary care and support earlier diagnosis.
What is FH?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of premature death worldwide and remains one of the NHS's greatest opportunities to save lives. Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH), one of the most common inherited conditions, causes lifelong exposure to high cholesterol and significantly increases the risk of premature heart attack and stroke.
FH affects around 1 in 250 people in the UK, yet the vast majority remain undiagnosed. The NHS Long Term Plan estimated that only 7% of people with FH know they have the condition. Recent national audit data also suggests FH is rarely identified in younger people, despite early diagnosis and treatment being critical to preventing future cardiovascular disease.
Without treatment, people with FH are up to four times more likely to experience a heart attack or stroke than the general population. However, FH is highly treatable. Early identification and cholesterol-lowering therapy can reduce risk to near-normal levels, making effective case finding a major opportunity for prevention.
In Norfolk and Waveney, an estimated 4,000 people were living with undiagnosed FH, while fewer than 300 had previously been identified. Traditional pathways relied on clinicians recognising potential FH and referring patients for assessment, resulting in variation in diagnosis rates and inequitable access to care.
About the Picker Experience Network
The Picker Experience Network (PEN) brings together people and organisations working to improve experiences across health and social care. Its vision is to create a unique platform and resource hub showcasing best-practice methods and models, while independently assisting, advising and providing expertise to those working towards positive patient experience.