University Hospitals of North Midlands care team up for prestigious UK award
A team from University Hospitals of North Midlands helping patients avoid hospital by delivering high quality care at home has been shortlisted for a top award.
The unscheduled care coordination centre/community rapid intervention service at University Hospitals of North Midlands helped more than 25,000 people avoid attending the emergency department (ED) during its first 18 months.
The team has been selected from hundreds of entries to be finalists in the Innovations in Your Specialty category of the RCN Nursing Awards 2022.
They will find out if they have won at a ceremony on Thursday 6 October at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London.
The RCN Nurse of the Year 2022 will be selected from all the category winners and will also be announced at the event.
The team’s excellent partnership working with the acute sector, West Midlands Ambulance Service and community partners at Midlands Partnership Foundation NHS Trust NHS, delivers care to patients at home so they can avoid being admitted to hospital.
In its first 18 months, 26,740 patients were referred to the single point of access unscheduled care coordination centre, with 25,462 avoiding emergency department attendance.
The service responds within two hours, with community rapid intervention service advanced nurse practitioners undertaking clinical assessments.
It delivers clinical interventions and management plans, including monitoring and treatment at home for up to five days to prevent further unnecessary attendances and admissions.
Lesley Roberts, senior clinical operational manager for CRIS, said: “Our service offers an alternative to attending ED and improves the patient’s journey and outcomes. This reduces the risk of deconditioning, acquiring infections and potentially needing long-term care. It is better for the patient’s family and provides a quality service.
“Our feedback proves how beneficial receiving care in the home is. We are very proud of our achievements in keeping patients safe, while providing the right care, at the right time, in the right place, every time.”
Ann-Marie Riley, UHNM Chief Nurse, said: “This collaborative service is now providing enhanced urgent care to patients in the community, helping to reduce significant pressures on our emergency departments at Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital, Stafford and is ensuring patients receive the right care in the right place. I am thrilled the team has been recognised by being nominated.
RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said: ‘This shortlist showcases the very best of nursing and highlights the work we do day in, day out to improve the health and well-being of our patients.”