Research, Audit and QI Opportunities
Southend University Hospital is aware of the importance of research, audits and QI projects and encourages incoming foundation doctors to be involved.
Sign off guidelines for 2017/18 required evidence of
participation in systems of quality assurance and quality
improvement projects:
F1 doctors should take part in systems of quality assurance and
quality improvement in their clinical work and training.
The Curriculum requires that F2 doctors manage, analyse and
present at least one quality improvement project and use the
results to improve patient care.
Quality Improvement (QI) is a key initiative being driven by the
Trust, encouraging all staff to look for opportunities to enhance
our service, the patient experience, safety, costs, efficiency and
to change the mindset from 'point in time' audit responses to
continuous improvement. Sharing projects and ideas across an
accessible platform allows progression across multiple departments
- and potentially across the NHS. And the completion of a
successful project can result in publication.
The Research Department is based in the Education Centre; the
ground floor office is the management & coordination centre for
research throughout the Trust.
Southend University Hospital is part of the Essex &
Hertfordshire Comprehensive Local Research Network (CLRN). We have
a large and varied portfolio of research with our main areas of
activity being cancer, rheumatology, stroke, critical care and
ophthalmology research.
We are the lead for the South Essex Cancer Research Network
(SECRN) and a participating hospital in the Thames Stroke and North
East London Diabetes Research Networks.
The Education Centre hosts an Annual Research and Audit open
day. This is an established, but unique event at Southend Hospital
and is a great opportunity for medical, nursing and allied health
professional staff from all specialties across the Trust, who might
not normally get to engage or work with each other, to spend half a
day at an event that encourages discussion, research and the
sharing of learning to improve patient care. The presentation day
is preceded by posters of audits being displayed in the Education
Centre for staff to view.