Bradford District Care team wins national award for lifesaving ‘Keeping My Chest Healthy’ project

Bradford District Care’s Learning Disabilities team has been recognised nationally for its groundbreaking ‘Keeping My Chest Healthy’ initiative, winning the Learning Disabilities Nursing Award at the Nursing Times Awards 2025.

Judges described the project as “a true game changer”, praising it for “showcasing exceptional learning disability nursing, combining strong nurse leadership with innovative use of AI translation and professional development tools.” They added that the approach is “scalable, transferable and delivers both lifesaving outcomes and significant cost savings.”

People with learning disabilities experience significant inequalities in health, dying on average 28 years earlier than the general population, with 42% of these deaths considered avoidable. Respiratory disease, particularly pneumonia, is a leading cause of premature death.

The ‘Keeping My Chest Healthy’ initiative aims to tackle this by shifting care from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. Developed by a multi-disciplinary team of nurses, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians, pharmacists and oral health professionals, the pathway helps identify those at highest risk and supports them with tailored care plans and accessible information.

Vicky Donnelly, Strategic Health Facilitator with the Learning Disabilities Health Support team at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are so proud of this achievement and the difference it’s making to people’s lives. This project truly puts people with learning disabilities at the heart of their own care, helping them stay well and avoid unnecessary hospital stays. Winning this award is a fantastic recognition of the dedication and collaboration of our team and partners.”

The initiative has already attracted national attention, with other NHS Trusts expressing interest in adopting the model.