North West Surrey Alliance shortlisted for the 2023 HSJ patient safety awards | News centre

Setting the standard for healthcare excellence and driving improvement

North West Surrey Alliance is thrilled to share the news that our Integrated Frailty Service has been shortlisted for the Best Use of Integrated Care and Partnership Working in Patient Safety Award at this year’s HSJ Patient Safety Awards which recognises safety, culture and positive experience in patient care, celebrating its worthy finalists on a national scale.

The HSJ Patient Safety Awards acknowledges the hard-working teams and individuals across the UK who are continually striving to deliver improved patient care.

A record-breaking 515 entries were received for the HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2023, with 209 organisations, projects and individuals making it to the final shortlist. The high volume - and exceptional quality – of applications is once again reflecting the dedication and commitment to patient care within the UK’s healthcare networks.

Of the 24 categories, three are new for 2023, representing some of the recent initiatives and current focus areas within the NHS. These comprise the award for staff wellbeing initiative of the year; safety improvement through technology award; and urgent and emergency care safety initiative of the year.

The judging panel was made up of a diverse range of highly influential and respected figures within the healthcare community.

Following the thorough judging process to date, North West Surrey Alliance was shortlisted, ahead of the official awards ceremony to be held later this year in Manchester (September 18th).  The Awards are a highlight of the HSJ’s annual 2-day Patient Safety Congress (taking place on 18th and 19th September), where delegates working at the forefront of safety, quality and clinical excellence will come together to join in with open and honest discussions about the current reality of safety.

At this first stage of judging, the shortlist was set against three clear criteria; clinical and specialist excellence; enacting organisation-wide change and service/system innovation

The team are delivering co-ordinated, patient-centred care, which maximises independence for people living with frailty. This includes:

• A single access point, open 8am-8pm, seven days a week, linked with 111 making access to the right support easy for patients and staff
• Multi-disciplinary teams in Frailty Hubs  
• Hospital at Home – hospital level care with remote monitoring 
• Home First and Frailty Teams – at front door reducing unnecessary admissions, supporting integrated discharge  
• Urgent Community Response Team – supporting people at risk of admission within 2 hours 
• Integrated discharge bureau – including mental health teams to reduce long stay patients  
• Step down accommodation for people medically fit but needing help after discharge 
• Integrated older persons advice liaison teams supporting all specialties, including mental health and surgery in acute trust 

There are estimated to be around 40,000 people living with frailty in North West Surrey, and our team is delivering huge benefits in both quality of care and outcomes. Since December 2020 North West Surrey has seen a 12% reduction in admissions for dementia, UTIs, falls and catheter related issues. There has also been a reduction in length of hospital stays, including a reduction in 30-day admissions. 

Emma Wilkinson, Consultant Geriatrician at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals and Clinical Director of Frailty for North West Surrey Alliance, said:

For those living with frailty and their loved ones this can be an extremely challenging stage in life and our aim is to provide care that delivers the quality of life and independence we know is so important to them. Through our collective innovation and determination we have shown the tangible difference that can be made when we shift our approach to one of early intervention, integrated working and paying careful attention to each individual’s wishes at every touchpoint with health, care and wider wellbeing services.

Recognising this example of what can be achieved when we break down organisational barriers and work as one team with the same goal is crucial for its sustainability and spread and we’re delighted to be shortlisted.

 

Jack Wagstaff, Chief Officer of North West Surrey Alliance, said:

This is such exciting news – and, as busy healthcare professionals, we never underestimate the positive ‘boost’ that being shortlisted for an HSJ Patient Safety Award will bring to our wider team and colleagues.

It’s well known within our sector that the HSJ awards programme is a high profile and hugely respected platform to showcase the work and achievements of the many healthcare professionals who enter, and we’re delighted to have been recognised on this prestigious shortlist for a 2023 Patient Safety Award.

 

HSJ editor Alastair McLellan, adds;

Every one of the projects, Trusts, teams and individuals who entered this year have truly demonstrated their skills in setting – and delivering – the highest of standards in healthcare excellence, presenting our venerable panel of judges with some difficult decisions.

I’m looking forward to welcoming our finalists to the awards ceremony in September, where we’ll have a fantastic opportunity to come together and celebrate some really impressive achievements, whilst sharing experiences, best practice and learning from our colleagues working in a diverse range of roles across the healthcare sector.

 

You can find out more about the full list of finalists for the 2023 HSJ Patient Safety Awards.

Winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at Manchester Central, on September 18th 2023.