GMUPCA a regional winner at the first NHS Excellence Awards

The Greater Manchester Urgent Primary Care Alliance (GMUPCA) has been named a regional winner at the NHS Excellence Awards 2026.

Recognised in the Working in Partnership category, this award reflects the scale and impact of joint working across the GMUPCA system, which includes Stockport-based healthcare provider, Mastercall, alongside other partners including Bardoc, gtd healthcare, Salford Primary Care Together and Wigan GP Alliance.

The partnership was recognised for bringing providers together across the system to improve access, coordination and consistency in urgent primary care. The collaboration was recognised for continually improving patient outcomes and enhancing the lives of residents within Greater Manchester, whilst easing pressure on emergency services.

Rachael Ingram, GMUPCA UEC Programme Lead and Mastercall Healthcare Head of Clinical Operations, Stockport, said:

“We’re so proud to announce that the Greater Manchester Urgent Primary Care Alliance (GMUPCA) has won an NHS Excellence Award for Working in Partnership naming them as a regional champion for: Working closely with NHS Trusts, the GM Integrated Care Board and North West Ambulance Service, to design and deliver system-wide services that reduce pressure on urgent and emergency care and ensure patients receive the right care first time.

“These award-winning programmes include the 24/7 GM Clinical Assessment Service, which handles over 200,000 cases a year, managing approximately 600 cases per day, saving over 91,000 ambulance response hours annually and safeguarding the NHS purse.

“Other initiatives include the GM Emergency Dental Helpline and winter initiatives such as the GM Falls Response Service (as well as wider digital infrastructure offerings).

“This award recognises the power of true partnership, shared leadership and collaboration to improve patient outcomes at scale across GM.”

The GMUPCA was one of five Greater Manchester services recognised as 2026 regional champions in the inaugural NHS Excellence awards.

The NHS Excellence Awards 2026 are run by, and for, the NHS, shining a light on local projects and teams who are making a real difference to patients and communities, delivering on the ambitions of the 10 Year Health Plan and inspiring others to adopt innovative approaches in their local area.

Following regional judging, regional champions have been selected for each award category. They will now go through to the next stage of national judging with national champions announced at the NHS ConfedExpo on Wednesday 10 June.