An update from our hospitals

Content originally from Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust 

Charlotte Williams, Chief Strategy and Improvement Officer, with the Innovation Fellows Health innovations to improve patient lives New ideas are set to help enhance patient care thanks to a group of specially selected people working with our Trust. More than 20 innovators have been chosen to join the Innovation Fellowship, which is the largest cohort since the programme began in 2018. The Innovation Fellowship programme was created to encourage and support its innovators to develop, test and advance new ideas, all designed to make improvements in care for patients, staff, and communities. Charlotte Williams, Chief Strategy and Improvement Officer at the Trust, who leads on Innovation, said: “We are about supporting people to make these ideas a reality, discovering exciting new ways that technology can help benefit patents and support staff. We’ve an amazing group of 22 passionate and focussed Fellows and can’t wait to see how they can help make a difference in care in hospital and in the community not just across Essex, but the country and beyond.” Read more Dementia Action Alliances from (clockwise) Thurrock, Southend, Basildon, and Chlemsford We’re recognised for our dementia care Robotic pets, dementia training and improved signage have helped our hospitals gain commendation for their efforts to become accessible to those with dementia, during World Alzheimer’s Month. Basildon, Broomfield, and Southend hospitals have been recognised for working towards being ‘dementia-friendly’ by local Dementia Action Alliances (DAAs). The DAAs support organisations to make their services more accessible for those with dementia and gave certificates to dementia staff during events held at each hospital. We have introduced measures, including new wall coverings in wards and improved signage, which makes it easier for patients and their carers to navigate hospital buildings. Staff have also been given materials such as dolls and robotic cats, as well as photo albums and activities such as jigsaws, to help them interact with patients. Claire Turner, Learning Disability, Autism and Dementia Service Lead, said: “Across Essex, Southend and Thurrock there are estimated to be over 22,000 people living with dementia, and so I’m proud that our work has been recognised. Our strategy sets out how we care for our patients and their families, focusing on them as people.” Read more

Empowering our patients with their care As we work to bring down our waiting lists and deliver routine services, we have been empowering our patients to manage their care. Patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU) is when a patient (or carer) can initiate their own appointment as and when needed – such as when their symptoms or circumstances change. This replaces the need to set up regular clinic appointments. Patients with our Cardiology department who need surveillance echocardiograms – scans of the heart using soundwaves – have been able to benefit from PIFU. Previously, a patient would have their scan and talk through the results with their doctor, which would be repeated one year later, for example. Under PIFU, the patient fills out a questionnaire about their symptoms alongside their scan. Both the questionnaire and scan are reviewed by a doctor, who will then write to the patient with their results. If there is a change in a patient’s symptoms, an appointment could be arranged.If the patient has any issues between their scans, they can contact the Cardiology unit. Nikki Baines, General Manager for Cardiology, explains: “It is saving time for both patients and our clinicians. If there is no change in the echocardiogram or the patient’s symptoms, they can be reassured more quickly and avoid travelling to the hospital for an appointment, while they can still contact the team if any symptoms do occur. Our staff can now spend more time with other patients who are clinically urgent.”

Dr Owolabi meets staff from the sickle cell service Praise for local projects making healthcare accessible for all Projects helping to improve healthcare and reduce inequalities in Basildon and Southend were recognised by one of the country’s leading doctors during a recent visit. Volunteers and NHS staff involved in local initiatives, which range from helping young people in A&E to supporting residents to gain new skills, received praise from Dr Bola Owolabi, Director for Health Inequalities at NHS England. The projects are part of the Anchor Programme, where local hospitals support their communities to find quality work. Dr Owolabi said: “We need to reduce the inequalities in health that our communities face, and that is exactly what is happening in Basildon and Southend. The supported internship programme, skills opportunities for Southend residents and new ways of delivering sickle cell care are all so valuable to tackle differences in how we experience healthcare.” Read more The Anchor Programme team with their Innovate Award Our projects win national innovation awards Projects that are helping to improve health outcomes for residents living in mid and south Essex have been successful in winning and being highly commended across four categories for a national award. The categories in which our projects won were: The Diversity in Innovation award – Essex Vax Van: engaging and communicating with diverse audiences to drive impact Enabling Safer Systems of Care through Innovation – Enabling safer care with the ‘Raizer’ emergency lifting chairs Outstanding Contribution to Population through Innovation – Anchoring Southend, putting our community first. The project ‘Driving innovation across the Mid and South Essex Health and Care System’ was also highly commended in the Innovative Health System of the Year category. In total, our ICS was shortlisted in eight categories across a wide variety of projects and programmes. Read more