'Walkrounds' help Trust to award.

A MIDLAND hospital trust has been named one of the best in the country for promoting patient safety.

The Dudley Group of Hospitals Trust is one of 26 organisations presented with a certificate in recognition of its work in promoting the nationwide Patient Safety First campaign.

More than 150 trusts have signed up to the campaign which was launched a year ago to improve patient safety at hospitals.

The Trust was awarded the certificate after consistently supplying data to demonstrate its progress against the core commitments it signed up to.

Since signing up to the campaign, the Trust has introduced a number of initiatives, including progressing its Deteriorating Patient scheme to reduce the number of cardiac arrests suffered by patients by more than a third by June 2010. To meet the target, the Trust has launched a trigger system for help nurses easily identify patients who need a visit from a newly-formed Medical Emergency Team to help stop their conditions deteriorating unnecessarily.

The Trust has also introduced regular Leadership Walkrounds where senior management members visit wards and departments to talk with staff and get feedback. Staff have reported finding the walkrounds very useful.

CAPTION(S):

Prize: Matron Kaye Sheppard, anaesthetist Julian Sonksen, co-ordinator Derek Eaves, anaesthetist Michael Reay and director Paul Harrison.