The hard work of colleagues across the NCA who have been playing a role in an innovative programme has been recognised nationally with a hat-trick of short-listed award nominations.
The trailblazing work focuses on new ways of moving older people, including those with dementia, quicker from hospital to home, and has made the cut in three categories at this year’s Health Service Journal Patient Safety Awards.
The awards recognise safety, culture and positive experience in patient care, throwing a spotlight on its finalists on a national scale.
The work has been shortlisted in three categories:
- Quality Improvement Initiative of the Year
- Best Use of Integrated Care and Partnership Working in Patient Safety Award
- Improving Care for Older People Initiative of the Year
All three projects are part of NHS England’s Discharge Integration Frontrunner programme which started in January 2023 and is one of six across the country funded to test new ways of moving people faster through hospital.
For example, the Days Kept Away from Home programme, shortlisted for the Quality Improvement Initiative of the Year, aims to keep people on wards as active as possible and focuses on getting them back home quickly as a priority.
Lindsey Darley, Frontrunner programme director, said: “We are all delighted that these Frontrunner projects have been shortlisted for such prestigious awards. It is testament to how our workforce has grasped the opportunity to create and implement new ways of working which help older people, those living with dementia, families and their carers.”
Danny Rowbotham, associate director of quality improvement, said: "To be nominated for three categories is great recognition for the work teams have put in to improve care for our patients and service users. As a member of the Quality Improvement team, it is fantastic that the Days Kept Away from Home collaborative has been nominated for Quality Improvement Initiative of the Year and highlights the innovation we have seen in applying the improvement approach across the Northern Care Alliance to get our patients home."
The programme on the NCA’s footprint has been led by the Four Localities Partnership and brings together teams across the NCA, as well as adult social care teams from Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Salford councils, the voluntary sector and Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust and Greater Manchester Mental Health.
Winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at Manchester Central, on September 16th 2024.