A series of articles by HSJ senior correspondent James Illman exposing care failings at East of England Ambulance Services Trust was named “investigation of the year” at last night’s inaugural Press Gazette specialist media awards.

HSJ correspondent Ben Heather won the award’s “technology” category.

Mr Illman’s 12 month investigation into the trust resulted in a string of exclusive stories, including the full details of a whistleblower’s allegations that at least 40 patients died or were harmed after ambulance delays this winter.

The allegations sparked investigations into the trust by NHS regulators and received widespread media and political attention including being raised by Jeremy Corbyn in Prime Minister’s Questions.

The awards judges said: “This was important reading on a matter of huge public interest. It demonstrated that this title is a trusted source for its readership and an important watchdog for one of the most important public institutions in the UK.”

Mr Heather’s entry dealt with NHS111, the Wannacry cyber attack and technology funding.

The judges said: “Ben submitted a great range of stories which were widely followed and clearly served the public interest by holding the UK’s most important public service to account.”

HSJ journalists Ben Clover, Nicholas Carding, and Lawrence Dunhill were also shortlisted in the health and science and public sector categories.

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