Southend Hospital shortlisted for national safety award
29 May 2018
Health Care
A team at Southend University Hospital has been shortlisted for a Health Service Journal (HSJ) patient safety award for the hard work it does for urology cancer patients.
Ann French, Lead Urology Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist,
explained: "One of the top priorities we had as the Specialist
Cancer Centre for Complex Kidney, Bladder and Prostate surgery for
Essex was that the transition across Essex must be safe and must be
coordinated effectively, so we've worked extremely closely with
patients to create the system we now have on offer.
"We've set up the patient passport, which contains operation
notes, blood results, x-ray reports and an overview of treatment,
locally or in primary care, along with a discharge summary. When
patients go home, which may be 60 miles away, if they need to see
their GP or attend A&E, patients can use the passport so
clinicians can understand their treatment. It also keeps patients
in the loop."
The Trust has also introduced a Patient Coordinator who is
patient focussed and helps with any issues they may encounter,
organising pre-assessments and tests on the same day, travel
arrangements and being there meeting patients face-to-face at the
pre-admission clinic.
Tara White, Patient Coordinator, said: "Patients don't want to
keep being passed from pillar to post and repeating their story.
It's like I'm their own cancer PA, someone who knows exactly what
is going on with each and every patient. It gives them one less
thing to worry about and feedback has been that it takes a huge
weight off their mind."
ENDS
Pictured (l-r): Ann French - Lead Urology
Oncology CNS; Tara White - Patient Coordinator; Wendy Davies -
Urology ERP Nurse