An initiative that has reduced waiting times and improved outcomes for patients needing emergency surgery at Medway Maritime Hospital has been shortlisted for the Urgent and Emergency Care Initiative of the Year at the annual HSJ Patient Safety Awards.
Patients in need of emergency surgery usually have their operations in a dedicated operating theatre, called CEPOD, that is staffed and able to run 24-hours a day. CEPOD theatres were introduced nationally in the 1990s after recommendations from the Confidential Enquiries into Perioperative Deaths (CEPOD).
The initiative, led by Dr Akuratiyage De Silva, Anaesthetist and lead for the hospital’s CEPOD theatre, brought together teams involved in emergency surgery, to identify and remove barriers that delayed patients’ operations.
As a result, the team has introduced a series of measures to help reduce delays and improve care which include introducing a check list and two emergency surgery facilitators to support patients to be ‘theatre ready’, agreeing standard procedures for the theatre’s use and appointing a second CEPOD Theatre Coordinator to cover seven days a week.
Dr De Silva said: “When a patient needs an emergency operation, many things need to come together before we can start the operation, including skilled clinical teams and the operating theatre, which can be in high demand, and making sure the patient is appropriately prepared for their surgery.
“We knew from an audit that almost two thirds of patients’ operations were delayed and that this was caused by things that we knew we could address by working together. The secret of success is working with multidisciplinary teams to engage everyone and taking all useful suggestions on board.”
She added: “As a result of the changes, we are seeing more patients through this specialist operating theatre, so they are getting the treatment they need sooner. Not only has this benefited our patients, which was our main focus, it has also helped build staff morale and improve wellbeing. Using the theatre more efficiently also saves the hospital almost £100,000 per year.”
Jayne Black, Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust said: “I am incredibly proud of the everyone involved for their dedication to improving patient safety and putting patients first. They thoroughly deserve this recognition after many months of hard work.”
The hospital’s initiative is one of 206 organisations, projects and individuals to make the final shortlist following 415 award entries.
Winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at Manchester Central, on 16 September.
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