Enhanced recovery initiative is shortlisted for national award
Ward Sister Sue Turner and Advanced Nurse Practitioner Janice Jones
have played a key role in ensuring the success of the enhanced recovery programme
Staff from Poole Hospital have been shortlisted for a prestigious national safety award.
The team behind the successful implementation of the enhanced recovery programme for colorectal surgery have reached the finals of the 2011 Patient Safety Awards, organised by the Nursing Times and Health Service Journal.
The Patient Safety Awards aim to recognise the best examples of work to improve patient safety and disseminate it more widely within the healthcare community. The awards are designed to highlight the best patient safety projects, allowing others to learn from work and improve their own services.
The Enhanced Recovery Programme was introduced for colorectal surgery at Poole Hospital in 2008, and supports patients in recovering quickly and safely following major surgery.
As part of the programme, patients' nutrition is optimised in the run up to surgery by giving them high protein shakes. Carbohydrate drinks are also given to sustain them during surgery, and patients also benefit from minimally invasive surgery. Following their operation, patients are supported in early mobilising and encouraged to eat and drink normally, and are supported once they return home with follow-up telephone calls and the district nurses all helping them on the road to full recovery.
The programme has been a huge success at Poole, and has contributed to a significantly reduced length of stay for patients undergoing colorectal surgery.
Sue Turner, Ward Sister on B4 said: “We are delighted to have reached the finals of the Patient Safety Awards. Our success is a testament to the hard work of staff in safely implementing enhanced recovery for surgical patients.”
To find out more about the Patient Safety Awards, visit www.patientsafetyawards.com
Date: 18 February 2011