From working with elderly patients to make hospital discharge information clearer, to finding better ways to support homeless people with TB in the community – staff at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust have been working hard on innovations and improvements over the last year.
Their efforts will be showcased at the trust’s Quality Improvement Awards event on Tuesday 20 July which will also see an award given to the most professional, supportive and patient-orientated FY2 Junior doctor in memory of Dr Steph Clarke who died from a rare form of cancer in March 2019.
This year’s event has attracted a total of 73 poster submissions from Walsall Healthcare staff across the hospital and its community services, detailing the wide range of improvement initiatives that have been developed against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Atul Garg, QI Divisional Lead for Surgery, said: “This is our second QI Award event; our first in 2019 was really successful but we were unable to repeat it last year due to the ongoing challenges and pressures of the pandemic.
“This year we have seen poster submissions from across the organisation and that has been inspiring and humbling – to see fantastic examples of collaboration, staff involvement, innovation and rapid learning despite unprecedented levels of pressure is a real testament to our committed and passionate staff.”
The posters are currently being judged by independent colleagues representing medics, nurses, Allied Health Professionals and corporate services. Staff have also been able to vote for the innovation they believe best exemplifies Quality Improvement, dubbed the People’s Choice.
Those shortlisted will be invited to create a short video presentation of their projects with a further judging process leading to the winners of the awards to be announced on the night.
The event itself will be both on site at the Manor Learning and Conference Centre at Walsall Manor Hospital and live streamed. During the course of the evening the Dr Steph Clarke award will be presented.
Mr Ashok Puligari, Training Programme Director FY2 Trainees, said: “Steph was an unforgettable, vibrant, caring colleague. We are keeping her spirit and dedication to patients alive by presenting the award to a deserving junior doctor who will honour the legacy she leaves and show our organisation’s values of Respect, Compassion, Professionalism and Teamwork throughout their work.”
Two external speakers, John Wilkes, CEO of the Institute of Health and Social Care Management and Stephanie Reid, Head of Methodology and Delivery at NHS England and NHS Improvement will also join the event.