More beds this winter

When we find ourselves immersed
in the complexity of healthcare, the
last thing on our mind might be how
to help other patients and other
healthcare workers. Fair enough.
As patients, our attention rightly
centres on all we can learn about
our own care and what we can do
for better times ahead. As family, it’s
the support for our loved one when
we aren’t nearby. As clinicians, this
particular patient needs the very best
we can offer right now. As support
staff, this particular task demands
all our attention. As managers, this
operational target is all-absorbing. As
citizens, this high standard must be
met.
When the pressure lets up, might we
take a moment to reflect, before the
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Trust and respect:
we’re all in this together
Carolyn Canfield, honorary lecturer at the University of British Columbia, Canada speaks
to NUH News about the importance of involving patients in safety improvements
next demand captures our attention?
No matter where we find ourselves
in the arc of treatment, we depend
on others and they on us. No one is
a solo star. No one is facing it alone.
Care only happens when we’re
all in this together. That’s where
compassion and confidence reside.
It is also where we find inspiration,
reward and satisfaction. Many of us
draw our strength daily from those
around us with a vision and passion for
excellence. Their generosity is our fuel.
In healthcare, whether patient,
citizen or care provider, we connect
through trust and respect. Trust is the
foundation for healing and helping.
Respect gives us confidence to speak
up and the humility to hear others’
voices. Care only fails when trust and
respect are lacking.
Someone else much like yourself is
following in your healthcare footsteps.
What’s one thing that would prepare
you better? What’s one thing you
would do differently? What’s one
thing that made a massive difference?
What’s one thing you’d change if you
could? You’re already collaborating for
improvement.
Imagination and commitment are
always welcome, for your insight is
uniquely valuable. Yes, you. Cleaner
and clinician, patient and parent, nurse
and neurosurgeon, Board member and
bed porter. Join in to push it forward,
spreading contagious goodwill
throughout the network of care. You’ll
be amazed at the difference it makes.
Learning from
our patients
Patients, members and staff will
be able to learn from Carolyn
about how their views can
help hospitals learn from their
mistakes at a presentation, in
November.
She will talk about ‘patient
activation’, a way hospitals can
review operations which result in
serious injury or death.
The event is at the Medical School at
QMC, 6-8.30pm, on 20 November,
and open to hospital and university
staff, other health care professionals
and our public members.
For more information, contact
Nick Woodier on:
nicholas.woodier@nuh.nhs.uk
Projects get
top praise
Leading expert in ‘patient activation’
Three innovative projects involving
NUH have been shortlisted for top
health service awards.
The entries will compete against
around 1,300 others in the Health
Service Journal awards, which
champion best practice and
innovation across the entire health
community.
+ + Patient Safety – Safer Surgery
is an ambitious, cross-cutting and
innovative three-year strategy which
has reduced serious patient safety
incidents at NUH. It looks carefully at
reviews and incident investigations,
metric analyses and education to
reduce Never Events and serious
incidents
+ + Secondary Care Service Redesign
– A project to train patients to set up
their own intravenous drips at home
to help speed up discharge
+ + Workforce – An innovative
community initiative is run by
Nottinghamshire’s Community
Programme in partnership with
Nottingham CityCare Partnership.
The Community Programme is hosted
by NUH, funded by CCGs and works
across the interface of care with
both providers and commissioners.
This is intended to transform service
delivery across Nottinghamshire
and has led to the development of a
new Clinical Quality Framework and
bespoke training for people working
in care homes. It included a structured
training programme for all care home
staff. Piloted with 187 staff from five
care homes, it has now being rolled
out to 900 more care home staff.
Keep an eye on Twitter for updates
@Nottmhospitals