Our work to reduce referral wait times was recognised at 'The Oscars' of the health care world
A scheme designed to provide care to local people with a life-limiting illness as quickly as possible has gained recognition on a national level. North Devon Hospice has worked to reduce referral times, so patients are seen as quickly as possible. It’s been such a success that the charity was nominated for a National Patient Safety Award.
Described as ‘The Oscars’ of the healthcare world, it is a real demonstration of how North Devon Hospice is leading the way nationally when it comes to outstanding care, says the charity’s Chief Executive Stephen Roberts. “This was a very proud moment for us all, because the National Patient Safety Awards recognise the very highest level of innovation and quality in health care.” he said.
Patients are referred to North Devon Hospice by their GP, or another healthcare professional, when they are diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. The first point of contact at the hospice is often the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) team, who assess new referrals and visit patients in their own homes, providing a range of expertise and support. The hospice has managed to reduce referral time so patients are seen as soon as possible.
CNS Team Leader, Naomi Mohabeer, said that the 28% improvement came about by making lots of little changes. “We looked at the way referrals came in from healthcare professionals, and looked at how we can streamline things to allow us to see patients as quickly as possible. Our aim is to contact patients within 24 hours, and that speed makes a real difference to those with a life-limiting illness.”
Maureen from Yelland is one person who has benefitted from this speedy referral process. She was seen by a hospice Clinical Nurse Specialist the very next day after being referred by her GP, following her diagnosis of a terminal cancer. Her hospice nurse, Brendan, was immediately able to improve her quality of life. “He asked what would benefit me most and I said an electric bed, because I was having difficulty getting out of bed. That was on a Thursday and on Saturday my bed was delivered. It was a life-saver because I couldn’t get out of bed without it. I’ve got a reason to live now.”
Brendan was also able to manage Maureen’s medication to alleviate her symptoms. “I’m more-or-less pain free now. It’s given me a reason to go on living, because to begin with the pain was so intense.” She said. “I’ve always been a glass-half-full person but I was right down at the bottom of my glass. Now it’s made life worth living, and I can’t say any more than that.”
Stephen Roberts added that this improvement was made at no extra cost to the charity. “We are lucky to have care teams that always strive to be outstanding. While many of the other awards in our category were for projects that had huge amounts of financial backing, our achievement came about as a result of sheer hard work and attention to detail. This award nomination was well-deserved recognition for our innovative and hard-working care teams.”
For more information about how to access the care and support offered by North Devon Hospice, either speak to your GP or visit www.northdevonhospice.org.uk.
