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Last month Barnet Hospital’s emergency department became the second pilot area for a severe sepsis improvement project at the hospital. Sepsis is one of the leading causes of deaths in the UK and is one of the key improvement work streams for our patient safety programme (PSP).
Key interventions developed during this pilot have included the creation of a sepsis improvement work stream group with staff from microbiology, pharmacy, the patient at risk and resuscitation team (PARRT), obstetrics, emergency department and patient safety. An adapted pathway co-designed by emergency department clinical leads, the sepsis improvement work stream team and sepsis champions was also developed.
Turan Huseyin, clinical lead for the emergency department at Barnet Hospital, said: “The improvement project allowed us to carefully evaluate the care we were providing. Using the methodology and comparing the model already in place in the emergency department at the Royal Free Hospital, we have developed a tool that should improve the efficiency and timeliness of ‘sepsis 6’ delivery at Barnet Hospital emergency department.”
Other interventions included the use of improvement science methodology (plan, do, study, act - PDSA - cycles) and small tests of change with frontline staff to help drive improvement plans. During the pilot, four sepsis emergency department champions were recruited, who will focus on raising local awareness among staff, data collection and assisting in tests of change.
Tracey Feeney sepsis 6 champion at the emergency department at Barnet Hospital, said: “Through data collection we have been able to provide evidence to our staff regarding the quality and improvement of care that we are implementing. The department has already been able to see the benefits and efficiency of managing sepsis patients with a standardised approach since the launch of the new pathway.
Data collected on patient outcomes at the Royal Free Hospital since 2010 has demonstrated a reduction in mortality from 22% to 10%, 50% reduction in length of stay and decreased ITU admissions. Data will also be used to measure patient outcomes and mortality at Barnet Hospital.
ENDS
Image: Members of the emergency department team at Barnet Hospital
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About the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
The Royal Free began as a pioneering organisation and continues to play a leading role in the care of patients. Our mission is to provide world class expertise and local care. In the 21st century, the Royal Free London continues to lead improvements in healthcare.
The Royal Free London attracts patients from across the country and beyond to its specialist services in liver and kidney transplantation, haemophilia, renal care, HIV, infectious diseases, plastic surgery, immunology, Parkinson's disease, vascular surgery, cardiology, amyloidosis and scleroderma and we are a member of the academic health science partnership UCLPartners.
In July 2014 Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital became part of the Royal Free London. Read 'A bigger trust, a better future'.
