Southend University Hospital in line for prestigious awards
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Health Care
Southend University Hospital has been shortlisted for three prestigious national awards, two of them for the same department.
Sexual health specialists have been shortlisted for both the
Patient Safety and the Care Integration Awards organised by
theHealth Service Journal and Nursing Times.
Meanwhile, volunteer Feeding Buddies and a multi-disciplinary
group of nurses, dietitians and catering staff are in the running
for a Patient Safety Award for the innovative 'snack round'
offering tempting treats for patients with exceptionally poor
appetites.
Just being shortlisted is a great accolade as this year the
awards received the highest number of entries ever.
The sexual health teamhas developed a failsafe method of
ensuring that HIV-positive women receive regular cancer checks,
which is up for two awards.
Sexual health consultants Drs Henna Jaleel and Kieran Fernando
will give presentations to the judging panel in the hope of beating
their rivals for the coveted prize.
Dr Jaleel explained that women who are HIV-positive have a
higher risk of cervical cancer and should therefore receive a smear
test annually rather than every three to five years, as in the
national programme.
She said: "The problem is that these women sometimes do not want
their GP to know that they are HIV-positive, so we needed to find a
way of encouraging them to come for a test every year. As
healthcare professionals we have that responsibility."
Working with colleagues in public health and other departments,
they devised a method of ensuring this group of patients receive an
annual reminder from the national screening programme, without
their HIV status being disclosed. They also ensured that the smear
test was available immediately to women attending the hospital's
sexual health clinic and that all newly-diagnosed HIV-positive
women were entered on the audit base.
Since then, 100% of all eligible HIV-positive women have
received the annual test - and as a result, any with pre-cancerous
cells have been picked up speedily and appropriate treatment
given.
Dr Fernando added: "In the past, we had to physically check
through patients' notes to see if they had had their annual smear
test or rely on their memory. Now we have a robust method of
ensuring the women receive an annual invitation, without breaching
their confidentiality."
Also giving their pitch will be clinical nurse development nurse
Claire Buckell, supported by matron Lynn Coley for the results of
thesnack roundservice.
The trolley service, offering chocolate bars and cake, complete
with cake-stand, is manned by ward staff and specially trained
Feeding Buddies in their distinctive red tabards, who offer
appetising treats as a way of stimulating poor appetites and
boosting calorie intake.
Also on the menu are bananas, custards and yogurts, scones and
other appealing, calorie-laden foods.
"For elderly patients with small or poor appetites,
offering high calories treats can help stimulate appetite at a time
when the body needs more calories to recover from illness,"
explains Claire. "We believe offering these treats may aid a
speedier recovery. Patients have also enjoyed the whole
experience."
The snack round has been running since last year. Initially it
focused on Elizabeth Loury and Stambridge wards but has now been
extended to Estuary ward with more in the pipeline.
It started after staff found that, despite their cajoling and
encouragement, some vulnerable patients were still not eating
enough at mealtimes to meet their nutritional needs. Once snacks
were offered, their calorie consumption rose by around 25%.
The hospital's chief nurse, Sue Hardy, said: "A tempting treat
can often encourage a patient to eat, so the snack rounds have been
an excellent way to support those with nutritional needs."
- With pic - The snack round team