Published on: 17th June 2021
Last year we launched a new campaign focusing on small changes to improve quality, save time, money, or help the planet.
We've had over 100 improvement ideas and changes already, here's how some are having an impact. You can also look out for our Idea of the Week every Friday on our Twitter account.
Access to expert advice
Consultant psychiatrists, Sarmad Nadeem and Neil Crossley, alongside the access team, launched a new service for Bury GPs, so they can get advice to better support patients in primary care.
They saw that patients were waiting a long time for appointments, where the information could be provided much quicker and directly via their GP.
The new consultant access service is already having an impact and has made the team much more responsive.
Neil said “The service has helped patients access rapid treatment from their GP, rather than having to come in to secondary care services; and in some cases prevented an admission to outpatient services altogether.
Signs of a change
Heather Prestage, community mental health nurse in Bury, suggested that British sign language becomes a standard training course for staff who care for patients with hearing difficulties.
After having a new member of the team join with sign language skills, Heather saw how it helped improve communication and access to services. Our clinical and professional admin team have accessed funding from Health Education England to support this.
Top form
Daisy Lord, senior physiotherapist for older adults across Oldham, Bury and Rochdale, came up with a simple idea to improve communication between different trusts based at Fairfield Hospital.
Acute hospitals use different systems and notes, so communication, often around follow up care, can sometimes be broken. Daisy made a simple form which can be accessed by any consultant or nurse, saving time and making information more accurate.
Paper payslips slide away
Another green idea came from one of our HR business partners, who asked if we could stop printing payslips and send them out digitally instead. The change was made quickly and will save us £36,000 a year, plus a great deal of paper and time too.
Helping the planet, one cup at a time
Staff at Birch Hill Hospital wanted to reduce the number of disposable cups used for tea and coffee at the Haven Café, and suggested offering a discount to those who brought their own cup.
Thanks to the quick work of our café staff, the eco-friendly idea has been helping cut back on unnecessary waste
PAT on the back
Portable appliance testing (PAT) electronics was a frequent problem for many of our wards, with many inpatients’ devices and chargers locked away in cupboards awaiting a PAT test. But an idea from Francis Simpson, on Norbury Ward in Stockport, sparked a change in process for the better.
After speaking with estates, they agreed that if electrical devices pass a visual check and are in good condition then patients can use them whilst they await a PAT test – massively improving patient experience.
If the mask fits…
Olivia Barratt and Maxine Boulton, in our Tameside home treatment team, realised that it was difficult for colleagues to know when their mask fit re-test date was and which type of mask they were required to use.
They decided to make small cards that fit neatly into staff lanyards with all the information on. It’s made the process of staying safe and on top of PPE recalls much easier and less stressful.