Their dedication, innovation, and interdisciplinary approach have earned them well-deserved recognition and their story is an inspiring testament to the power of teamwork in transforming healthcare delivery


standardised labelling for IV medicines and diluents. IV therapy continuation for inpatients was reviewed using HEPMA (Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration) reports and switched to oral antibiotics when appropriate. This reduced nursing workload, administration time, and improved the patient experience.


Multidisciplinary team sessions and education raised awareness, and clinical guidelines provided updated information on practice changes. The team's motivation stemmed from a desire to improve patient care while optimizing resources.


Given the pressures on healthcare staffing, bed capacity and medicine costs within the health board, these projects helped to facilitate discharges earlier, freeing up beds for other acutely unwell patients.


Through these efforts, the team reduced drug costs and the time taken to prepare and administer medicines. Further benefits included improved patient safety and a reduced environmental impact of healthcare waste from IV administration sets.


These initiatives provided junior staff with opportunities to undertake quality improvement work and professional development, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to service improvements in an area where they had shown or expressed an interest.


Despite the success, the team faced several challenges. Capacity issues emerged, as the small team struggled with time for quality improvement projects and training. To address this, education and training were integrated into the multidisciplinary team to embed clinical changes.


The team leveraged HEPMA to streamline data collection, allowing daily IV / oral antibiotic prescribing reports for targeted ward reviews. Clinical guideline websites were also updated for easy access to antimicrobial policies and prescribing information.


The team's interdisciplinary approach was crucial to their success. The


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antimicrobial team was led by one pharmacist with 0.5 WTE (Whole Time Equivalent) pharmacists at each of the three acute sites. The OPAT service was temporarily staffed by a 0.7 WTE clinical pharmacist.


Clinical specialist teams in surgery and orthopaedics worked closely together to manage patients requiring antimicrobial therapy. HEPMA notes facilitated communication between these teams, ensuring timely decisions and enhancing pharmaceutical care.


The Antimicrobial and Surgical Teams' exceptional work within NHS Lanarkshire has not only improved patient care but also demonstrated the potential of collaborative, innovative pharmacy practice.


Their dedication, innovation, and interdisciplinary approach have earned them well-deserved recognition as the 'Hospital Pharmacy Team of the Year.' Their story is an inspiring testament to the power of teamwork in transforming healthcare delivery.


AAH Pharmaceuticals is proud to congratulate the Antimicrobial and Surgical Teams at NHS Lanarkshire, based at University Hospital Wishaw, for their outstanding achievement in winning the 'Hospital Pharmacy Team of the Year' award. This accolade is a testament to their dedication and innovative approach to patient care within the hospital setting. The teams have demonstrated exemplary commitment to improving clinical outcomes through enhanced antimicrobial stewardship and surgical care, significantly contributing to patient safety and healthcare efficiency. Their collaborative efforts have set a high standard for hospital pharmacy practice, inspiring their peers across the healthcare sector. AAH is honoured to support this award and recognizes the critical role these pharmacy professionals play in advancing medical treatment and patient care. Congratulations to the entire team on this well-deserved recognition.


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