Three pioneering projects from the Royal United Hospital in Bath have been named as finalists in the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards.
The national awards celebrate excellence and innovations throughout the health service.
Dr Lesley Jordan, Consultant Anaesthetist and Patient Safety Lead and her team have been shortlisted for two awards – one for introducing screening tools to identify patients at risk of sepsis and acute kidney injury (AKI) and a second nomination for establishing a national quality improvement training programme for staff at the RUH.
Dr Jordan said: “Sepsis and AKI can happen as a complication of another serious illness. We have introduced screening tools to support the increased identification and early management of these conditions.
“Our screening tools have shown an improved rate for spotting and treating symptoms of Sepsis and AKI, which reduces the time patients have to stay in hospital.”
“We’re delighted for this to be recognised nationally. These are amazing achievements, which have involved all staff across the trust and have been driven by dedicated team members.”
Dr Jordan and Senior Nurse for Quality improvement, Anne Plaskitt, are both accredited trainers for a national improvement training programme from NHS improvement, which they have embedded at the RUH over the last three years.
The quality improvement training programme provides staff with the knowledge, skills and confidence to bring about effective improvements in patient care across the Trust and the pair say they are delighted that it has also been shortlisted for an award.
Staff from the Project SEARCH team at the RUH were also recognised in the Widening Participation category.
Project SEARCH is a one year course supported by the Trust that helps students with learning disabilities to gain work experience and find jobs. The scheme has been so successful that the Trust leads the NHS nationally in terms of the number of Project SEARCH interns who then go on to employment.
Claire Radley, Director of People at the RUH said: “The hospital has really embraced Project SEARCH and we’re committed to supporting our local young people to gain experience in work and social skills that can really help them to succeed in the job market. The RUH is a better place because of Project SEARCH.
“We enrol up to a dozen students on the programme and from their classroom on site, they go into the hospital to work as trainees in our departments and wards.”
Project SEARCH is a partnership with Fosse Way School in Radstock, Virgin Care and the Trust.
All finalists will find out if they have won an HSJ Award on Wednesday 21st November at InterContinental O2, London.
