We are always interested in reading articles about the challenges facing our healthcare system. However, we find that many seem to focus on ongoing winter pressures and associated number analysis and predictions rather than offering a way forward. It’s also clear that change needs to happen quicker. A recent HSJ article echoes this. It calls for accelerated transformation longer term: “If system and service transformation is viewed as the key to reducing pressure on urgent and emergency care, the pace of change needs to accelerate.”
Most of us would probably agree but it can be hard to make room to think about improvements and innovations when the pressure is on – never mind accelerating the pace of change.
The task of managing an increasing number of patients safely and efficiently against a background of limited resources and increased pressure is fiendishly complex. So, what can you do? You can start breaking down the challenge into manageable chunks and tackling them at pace, one at a time.
The HSJ article in cooperation with Luton & Dunstable University Hospital (L&D) is a perfect example of how small but continuous improvements optimised patient flow. Over time, this is has made L&D a Superimprover. A Superimprover is an organisation that continues to innovate and improve at a fast pace. Luton & Dunstable’s approach of making lots of small changes has had a large impact.
During our webinar “Rise of the Superimprovers” on 12th November 2018, experts from across the NHS shared their ideas of how improvement can be hardwired into all healthcare organisations despite unprecedented demand for services all year round.
They discussed practical tips for improvements, uncovered what some organisations have done to continue to improve and confirmed how this makes them more resilient than their peers. There was an opportunity to join in the discussion during the Q&A at the end of the webinar.
Expert NHS speakers
Jim Mackey, (CEO Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and former CEO NHS Improvement), explained how “staff at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust commit to providing high quality care, no matter what’s thrown at them.” The trust is now supporting other NHS organisations across the country to improve the quality of the care they provide. “This work is proving to save lives and the more collaboration across hospitals that can take place the better”, says Jim.
Dr Linda Charles-Ozuzu, (Head of Elective Care Transformation Programme at NHS England), shared details of the work undertaken by NHS England in the last 12 months to redesign referral processes and patient pathways. Linda comments: “Each of the new approaches is aimed at ensuring the patient sees the right person in the right place, first time.”
Dr Ruth Grabham, (Medical Director at NHS Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group), highlighted some of the many innovative projects at BaNES CCG and Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust (RUH) that have helped them to excel despite budgetary constraints and rising patient demand. As well as being named among the top 100 Acute Trusts in England in August 2018, according to data consultancy PublicView, the RUH also climbed the greatest number of places on the list – 29 in all.
How to join the discussion
If you are interested in watching a recording of our webinar on 12th November, click here. To have a separate discussion about how Advice & Guidance can be part of your all-year round improvement efforts, please contact us on 01865 261 467 or email info@consultantconnect.org.uk.
