Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised for achievements in improving patient safety by being shortlisted for three separate prestigious national awards.
The trust, which runs Stepping Hill Hospital and community NHS services in Stockport, has received finalist status in the Health Service Journal Patient Safety Awards, for innovations in improving ambulance turnover times, and new support for patients with suspected delirium and mental health needs.
The award recognitions show that following two of the toughest years ever in the health and social care sector, the trust continues to champion patient safety amidst challenges that the health and social care sector is facing.
The shortlisting for Quality Improvement Initiative of the Year is for improving ambulance turnaround times in Stepping Hill Hospital’s emergency department (A&E). This project saw the team deliver a new Rapid Assessment Unit (RAU), working together with the North West Ambulance Service, to reduce ambulance queuing. Introducing enhanced new processes, a new nursing model, increased engagement, and more access to information, the result has been major improvements in handover times, rising up from the 21st place to 6th place in the region.
The title of Deteriorating Patients and Rapid Response Initiative of the Year is in recognition of a new person-centred approach to support patients with suspected delirium. These patients now receive a rapid clinical assessment in the community, without the need for hospital admission. With support from the Stockport Crisis Response Team (CRT) and Mental Health Liaison Team (MHLT), the new model of assessment means these patients can receive the personalised care which they need sooner. This project is a collaboration with Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, who run mental health services in the area, and the shortlisting is for both trusts together.
The third award for Best Use of Integrated Care and Partnership Working in Patient Safety Award is for another partnership project with Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, this time on embedding a culture to improve the quality and delivery of mental health services for patients and wellbeing support for staff. This has included targeted training courses for emergency department staff and wards; the introduction of a Mental Health First Aider support network for staff across the trust, obtaining charitable funding to support a variety of psychosocial wellbeing support and activities for staff; and a new mental health risk assessment tool for patients presenting at the emergency department.
Each project has been shortlisted based on the HSJ Patient Safety Award criteria based on their ambition, visionary spirit and the demonstrable positive impact that the project has had on patient and staff experiences within the health and social care sector.
Karen James OBE, Chief Executive for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said “Patient safety is at the heart of the care we provide, so I am delighted our efforts in have been recognised at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards. These are three separate using innovative new techniques to ensure we can provide the best and safest care we can together with our partners, and I wish them all every success at the awards.”
The Winners of the Health Search Journal Patient Safety Awards will be selected ahead of the ceremony, which will take place as part of the Patient Safety Congress and Awards in Manchester in September 2022.