News

Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) is delighted to announce that it has been shortlisted for two HSJ Patient Safety Awards, recognising its outstanding dedication to improving healthcare.

The two categories are:

• Improving Safety in Medicines Management Initiative with various Trusts across Yorkshire for our TCAM programme

• Maternity and Midwifery Services Initiative of the Year with Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust.

Our Transfer of Care Around Medicines (TCAM) programme ensures that patients are referred through a safe and secure digital platform to their local community pharmacist when they are discharged from hospital. The initiative has shown that patients who see their community pharmacist after they’ve been in hospital are less likely to be readmitted and, if they are, will have a shorter length of stay and remain in a better state of health.

TCAM has the potential to help alleviate pressure on GP services, by building public confidence and acceptance of the pivotal role community pharmacists can play in health promotion, disease prevention and the management of urgent and long-term conditions. It offers significant benefits, especially around medicines waste and efficiency. It makes a big difference to keeping patients safe as well as improving quality and productivity

We have supported the following Trusts to go live with TCAM in the region:

• Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
• Barnsley Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
• Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Placental growth factor-based tests help predict the risk of pre-eclampsia quickly so that pregnant women receive the most appropriate care and deliver a better patient experience.

The Yorkshire & Humber AHSN worked in collaboration with Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust and helped with implementation of the test. The AHSN also provided impartial advice, making the trust aware of the tests available to rule out pre-eclampsia and offered support to the trust’s application to receive Pathway Transformation Funding through the Accelerated Access Collaborative.

The test ensures only women in need of admission are admitted, allowing those who are found to be at low risk to be discharged home with robust plans in place for follow up and retesting.

Richard Stubbs, Chief Executive Officer at Yorkshire & Humber AHSN said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted in two categories for these awards.’’

“We are committed to delivering improved outcomes for patients, and to be chosen among the other incredible nominees is a wonderful achievement. These nominations have been a tremendous boost to both our team and our partners, and I am sure it will bolster our continued efforts to improve”

The full list of finalists for the 2020 HSJ Patient Safety Awards can be found here