Trust finalist in National Patient Safety awards
06-Feb-2010
The North West London Hospitals NHS Trust was in the final five in the clinical practice category in this year's National Patient Safety Awards, run by HSJ and Nursing Times.
The Trust was singled out for its innovative work to improve mortality rates through the use of "care bundles".
Care bundles are effectively checklists which set out the top five things that staff can do that are known to improve care and save lives.
Analysis was undertaken on the top 25 causes of death and intially, the care bundles were rolled out in eight key areas, including stroke, diarhhoea and vomiting, ventilator-acquired pneumonia, MRSA, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, central venous catheter insertion and surgical site infection.
The initative has already received significant attention nationally and internationally. Data published by NHS Choices last year put the Trust's mortality rates as the best in the country.
In 2008 the Trust was recognised by Dr Foster’s Hospital Guide as one of the ‘most improved’ Trusts in the country for mortality rates.
Professor Elizabeth Robb who led the work, said: “By getting all the clinical teams signed up to the process, and by auditing every part of it, we have demonstrated that lives can be saved in these key areas. There are lessons for us and the whole NHS in this vital area.”
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