PATIENT SAFETY
plan activities (and later report back on progress), and action periods, during which the plans are enacted and tested.
Each change is tested through a Plan-Do- Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, which ensures the change is evaluated. At the end of the cycle, those introducing the change can choose to adapt it and retest, adopt it across the wider organisation, or abandon it and try something different.
When the collaborative re-convenes, staff can learn from one another’s successes, and begin to spread the ideas that have proven to work.
New areas of work
In its first year, 1000 Lives Plus has in- troduced several new programmes, which include:
• Preventing falls in the community; • Enhanced recovery after surgery; • Transforming maternity services; • Offering better treatment to those suffer- ing with depression; • Improving quality of life and care for those with dementia.
Many of these areas involve both primary and secondary clinical organisations, with
a definite agenda to institute quality “from board to ward to home”.
In patient-centred care, consideration needs to be given to every interaction with patients, including preparing for surgery before hospital admission, and after dis- charge, for example by continuing treat- ment, Dr Willson explained.
Patients are expected to be involved in the planning stages for their transition back into the community, based on individually tailored treatment plans.
Mental health services
One of the newest areas being developed in 1000 Lives Plus is providing better mental health services.
This includes engaging GPs to screen for depression during consultations as a pre- ventative measure.
Mental health initiatives also take the con- cept of ‘patient-centred care’ to a wider level; involving the family of dementia suf- ferers is an integral part of improving care, both during hospitalisation and in coher- ent discharge planning.
Patients also play a vital part in ensuring
that improvements work – their compli- ance with treatment can be the determin- ing factor in success. Educating patients about their treatments, and encouraging patients to question the care they receive is vital.
“Patients need to feel they can ask a doc- tor to wash their hands, or request a risk assessment for thrombosis,” says Dr Willson.
“When we begin to see patients as part- ners in treatment – someone we work with, rather than do things to – then we will see better recovery rates, and earlier discharges.”
The values of NHS Wales recently issued by its chief executive, Paul Williams, fol- lowing consultation, has ‘Putting quality and safety above all else: providing high value evidence based care for our patients at all times’ at the top of the list. The focus on quality and safety in Welsh healthcare is to remain a priority.
Visit
www.1000livesplus.wales.nhs.uk Alan Willson
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Kate Foley andGreg Dix explain how their hospital, Taunton’s Musgrove Park, came to be named best in the country for its work on an innovative patient safety project.
M
usgrove Park Hospital in Somerset has launched an online film to cel-
ebrate its “exceptional achievements” in improving patient safety.
In 2006, the hospital became one of 20 awarded a place on the Safer Patient Initiative project (SPI).
The initiative was set up by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement to test ways of making care safer in three areas of the hospital – on the wards, before, during and after operations and in intensive care.
It has since been named the top scorer among the 20 participating hospitals and its online film documenting its improving patient safety record has been viewed thou- sands of times.
Kate Foley, head of safety and improvement at Musgrove, said: “We’ve been praised by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement as
one of the top two hospitals in the country for our work in this area. That’s a remark- able achievement and we wanted to share the good news with both our staff and the public.
“Making a film about it seemed a great idea, as it would put our amazing staff in the lime-light and would let us focus on celebrating real examples of where we’ve made a difference for our patients.”
Greg Dix, acting director of nursing and governance, added: “We know that the smallest of improvements can make the biggest difference to our patients.
“Our film highlights some of this work, serving as both inspiration for our staff and assurance for our patients.
“For example, we introduced safety brief- ings to highlight patients at risk, we de- veloped patient diaries for our critically ill
patients and instigated changes in the care of patients with specific types of infection. The teams involved with this work have been a credit to the hospital.
“Providing safe and reliable care to our patients has always been a top priority at Musgrove Park and being named as the top performing hospital in the Safer Patient Initiative project is something that we can be very proud of.
“It is a tremendous achievement and I would like to thank all those involved for continually driving this project forward.”
The Institute of Healthcare Improvement told hospital staff: “The work you have ac- complished is truly remarkable and you are to be commended. Congratulations.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION The film is available at
www.tsft.nhs.uk
national health executive Mar/Apr 11 | 53
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