Trust shortlisted for top patient safety awards

Two projects to improve the safety of patients at Guy’s and St Thomas’ have been shortlisted for the prestigious Patient Safety Awards. The awards recognise outstanding practice in the NHS and independent healthcare sector.

Our patient safety film was shortlisted in the Best New Product, Innovation or Service category. It supports patients to play an active role in their care, providing them with information about how to prevent falls, blood clots, pressure ulcers and other avoidable complications.

The film was developed in partnership with Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and Haelo, an innovation and improvement centre in Salford. It was based on Guy’s and St Thomas’ award-winning safety card which forms part of the Trust’s inpatient Welcome Pack.

A new way of conducting handovers was shortlisted in the Changing Culture category. A handover is when two clinicians exchange important information between shifts about patients on the ward. Handovers are essential for ensuring continuous care, so that no matter which clinicians are on duty, patients can feel assured that no detail will be missed. The changes introduced have reduced human error in handovers, improved their structure and efficiency, and increased patient safety.

Dr Ian Abbs, Medical Director and Director of Patient Safety, says: “Patient safety is our top priority. I am delighted that these two important projects have been recognised for helping us to provide consistently safe and high quality care.”

The winners of the awards will be announced at the Patient Safety Congress on 6-7 July.