Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals (SWBH) NHS Trust has been shortlisted for its Secondary Care Service Redesign at the prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) awards due to be held in November.
To ensure safe, sustainable services in the run up to a single site new hospital, the Trust has reconfigured a number of its key services over the last five years, including paediatrics, orthopaedics, maternity and, most recently, stroke. Each reconfiguration has been driven by the need to improve outcomes and experience for patients.
Reconfigurations are led by clinicians with staff and patient engagement throughout the process, working closely with commissioners and other key stakeholders.
Maternity care has dramatically improved in Birmingham and Sandwell after radical changes that involved single site ‘high risk’ services, midwifery led care for normal births with two purpose built midwifery-led birth centres. Safety, quality of care, patient experience and facilities have all been improved and the Trust now has the highest ‘normal’ birth rate in the country. In 2013, the maternity service won the Promoting Natural Birth category at the Royal College of Midwives’ national awards, and was upgraded to Level 2 for CNST maternity standards.
Stroke and TIA services since March 2013 are provided in one hospital in a Stroke Unit consisting of a newly refurbished combined hyper acute and acute stroke ward and a rehabilitation ward. The number of specialist staff skilled in caring for stroke patients has been increased in line with national guidelines to allow earlier specialist diagnosis, treatment and improved, faster recovery. An Early Supported Discharge team was also introduced to support patients to return home earlier with on-going care and therapy.
Both examples of service redesign followed extensive publication with changes made to plans as a direct result of staff, patient and public feedback.
The Trust has been shortlisted in the Service Redesign category for its clinical leadership, staff, patient and public involvement in planning service redesign.
Jane Dunn, RCRH Implementation Director said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted in the Secondary Care Service Redesign category.
“We involved a full range of people from clinical leaders, staff, patients and the public in the redesign project. This is crucial to achieving excellent care and making sure the service remains sustainable in the future.”
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 19 November.