Hospital’s head injury project for children is shortlisted for national award
A Barnsley Hospital project which has helped speed up discharge for children with minor head injuries has been shortlisted for an HSJ Patient Safety Award.
The project has been shortlisted for the Quality Improvement Initiative category, which recognises safety, culture and positive experience in patient care, celebrating its worthy finalists on a national scale.
The nurse-led training package for patients aged 2-16, shortlisted in the Quality Improvement Initiative of the Year category, has saved an estimated 300 hours in patient waiting time and 32 hours of healthcare professional time.
Since implementation, over 30 per cent of head injury cases have been discharged this way, saving an estimated 300 hours in patient waiting time and 32 hours of healthcare professional time. Strict criteria ensures the safety of discharged children, and audits show no increase in return visits with injury complications. This initiative has empowered nursing staff, enhancing their independence.
The HSJ Patient Safety Awards acknowledges the hard-working teams and individuals across the UK who are continually striving to deliver improved patient care.
Following the thorough judging process The Trust was included in the 206 organisations, projects and individuals that made the final shortlist amid 415 entries logged for the 2024 awards programme.
This quality improvement project enables highly trained children's emergency nurses, to safely discharge patients aged 2 to 16 with minor head injuries autonomously, without direct consultant input, saving time and enabling a better patient experience. The project reduces waiting times for simple treatments like wound closure with glue or Steri Strips. This care journey improves the patient experience and frees up time for healthcare professionals to attend to more severely ill children, enhancing their care too.
Lead Nurse for the children’s emergency department and assessment unit. Lucy Schofield said:
“I am so proud that we have been shortlisted for this 2024 HSJ patient safety award. It is amazing to have this recognition for the hard work and dedication that our team have towards providing exceptional nursing care. To win the award would be aspirational and truly show that we can achieve great things by working collaboratively. We hope to inspire others to do the same and build upon what we have learnt from this quality improvement project.”
The Awards are a highlight of the HSJ’s annual 2-day Patient Safety Congress (taking place on 16 & 17 September), where delegates working at the forefront of safety, quality and clinical excellence come together to join in on open and honest discussions about the current reality of safety.
The full list of finalists for the 2024 HSJ Patient Safety Awards can be found at https://awards.patientsafetycongress.co.uk/shortlist-2024.
Winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at Manchester Central, on September 16th 2024.