The Department of Health and Social Security's Patient Safety and Quality Forum has reviewed a successful year during which it concentrated on four main projects.
Formed in 2007, the Patient Safety and Quality Forum consists of public representatives and senior hospital health care professionals, who meet at Noble's Hospital every two months.
The Forum represents the general public, giving them a say in how their hospital is run and ensuring that all patients get the best possible treatment the Island can offer.
In 2008, the forum members spent considerable time establishing key issues for patients and the wider public, and the way health care is delivered on the Island. Following feedback, four projects were identified for attention in 2009.
2009 Forum Projects
Inpatients' Satisfaction Survey: An inpatients' satisfaction survey asked patients at Noble’s Hospital about their stay, including how they were treated by staff, nurses and doctors. This survey was put in place in August 2009 and the findings will be analysed by the Government Economic Affairs Division and the results published early in 2010.
Handwashing 'Keep 'em Clean' campaign: A high profile handwashing 'Keep em Clean' campaign launched in July 2009 was implemented throughout the hospital. It engaged patients, visitors and staff by conducting several interactive events, including an open day that allowed members of the public to see for themselves how easy infection can be spread by poor hand hygiene standards. This was a highly successful, fun method of raising the profile of hand hygiene.
Environmental Audit Tool: A scheme through which all clinical areas within the hospital have been audited. The audit addresses the 'feel' of the area, standards of cleanliness, the decor, facilities and appropriateness of information available to patients and visitors. The audit's finding was that, overall, expectations of patients and visitors are being met.
Patient Safety Walk: The Medical Director and the Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Professional Development and a public representative undertook a 'Patient Safety Walk' once a month to inspect general organisation and cleanliness and, more importantly, to talk with front line staff, patients and their relatives about current experiences.
Suggestions offered by this group of people have lead to rapid improvement initiatives such as dressing gowns being available for patients waiting for x-ray procedures, to long term improvements to the rehabilitation gym.
Public representation has proved to be highly sucessful in shaping future developments and standards within Noble’s Hospital. This form of representation also extends further than the Patient Safety and Quality Forum, with numerous project teams already benefiting from representation by a member of the public.
Alan Crowe, MLC, Member for Health said, "I am delighted that this important partnership between the Health Service and patients is helping us to improve the services we provide."
The Patient Safety and Quality Forum is currently seeking additional public representatives to join a number of teams. If you are interested in contributing to the way in which health care is planned, delivered and evaluated on the Isle of Man, get in touch.
Please contact either of the following for further details: Jayne Kerruish Senior Nurse Patient Safety and Governance (650763/ Jayne.Kerruish(at)gov.im) or Bev Critchlow, Director of Nursing Midwifery and Professional Development (650601 or Bev.Critchlow(at)gov.im).
Pictured: Sue Rafferty, Health Records Manager: Brian Christian Senior Nurse Ortho/Trauma Directorate; Martyn Lowey Public Representative Patient Safety & Quality Forum; Jayne Kerruish, Senior Nurse Patient Safety and Governance.
