Two more award wins for HSJ

Senior correspondent Sharon Brennan was named best digital writer - B2B, while bureau chief Lawrence Dunhill was joint winner in the best scoop category.

Sharon, who has covered shielded patients for HSJ during the course of the covid pandemic, was praised for her “focused investigative journalism, which was well executed”. Judges added that she demonstrated “brilliant reporting on topics that were relevant for 2020”. 

Meanwhile, Lawrence broke the news that major London hospital Northwick Park had declared a “critical incident” following a surge in covid patients in March 2020. Judges said: “Lawrence landed the critical care scoop… racking up 10 times as many hits as any previous tale from his title.

“A brilliant contacts book and impressive understanding for his sector allowed Lawrence to blow open the crisis in critical care at the start of the pandemic — a story that reverberated across national media and TV outlets and, ultimately, led to the NHS radically expanding its intensive care capacity.” 

Lawrence was also shortlisted for best specialist writer - digital, while reporter Nick Kituno was shortlisted for best print writer - B2B and deputy editor Dave West was shortlisted in the best deputy editor category. 

Last week, HSJ editor Alastair McLellan was chosen as 2020 editor of the year at the Professional Publishers Association awards, while Lawrence Dunhill also won the specialist journalism category in Press Gazette’s British Journalism Awards 2020 last year.