Quality Awards winners announced

Congratulations to the first winners of the Trust’s new quarterly awards scheme that recognises the contributions that individuals or teams of staff make to improving the quality of patient care have been announced.

The Council of Governors Quality Awards are backed by our Foundation Trust Governors who are elected by patients, members of the public and staff.

Thanks to their support, the three winning teams of staff receive £250 and the individual winner receives £100.

Team winners

Macmillan Centre counselling service

Photos: Macmillan Counselling Service staff member Diana Willis with Russ Hargreaves and Catherine Gillespie, Cruse Volunteer Dominique Taylor, and Cruse Volunteer Bev Frydman

This service was launched in 2009 in partnership with Kensington and Chelsea Cruse to provide emotional support for cancer patients and their carers. It has offered 300 hours of counselling and helped 21 bereaved relatives with long-term support.

One recipient of the service said, “I am not sure how I have would coped without this support and knowledge.”

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment development team

Photo: VTE Risk Assessment Development Team with Martin Lewis (Public Governor—left) and Cathy Mooney (Director of Governance—5th right)

An electronic VTE risk assessment was launched in June 2010 to identify patients at risk of VTE when they are admitted to hospital so that they can be offered appropriate care to reduce their risk of developing VTE in hospital or when they go home.

Thanks to hard work of not only clinicians but also IT and Information staff in implementing the new electronic risk assessment, the percentage of patients assessed for VTE on admission to hospital increased from 50% in June 2010 to 89% in October 2010.

West London Centre for Sexual Health

Photo: WLCSH staff with Cathy Mooney

When patients were asked how services at the Trust’s West London Centre for Sexual Health could be improved, the overwhelming answer was better opening hours.

Staff shifts were rearranged, without increasing staffing costs, to facilitate more evening and weekend services and as a result there has been a 10% increase in patient numbers, a reduction in DNA rates, and positive patient feedback.

Individual winner

Sarah Hamilton (Liaison Health Visitor, Paediatric Emergency Department)

Photo: Sarah Hamilton (2nd left) with Susan Maxwell (Patient Governor), Therese Davis (Chief Nurse) and Martin Lewis

According to her colleagues, Sarah made an enormous contribution in many different ways including improving the safeguarding system, particularly around domestic violence and mental health issues, developing processes after child deaths, and improving information for parents and children.

Paediatric Emergency Department Consultants, Dr Jo Hacking and Dr Ed Abrahamson, said, “Sarah is an absolute pleasure to work with.”