Sherwood Forest Hospitals in the running for prestigious national award for work on learning difficulties

Posted Monday, September 3, 2018 12:33 PM

The learning disabilities team at Sherwood Forest Hospitals is celebrating being shortlisted in the prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards for the work that it is doing to communicate better with people with learning disabilities.

The awards celebrate the best examples of outstanding care in NHS organisations nationwide and the Trust has been shortlisted in the Enhancing Care by Sharing Data and Information category.

The work, led by Learning Disability Nurse, Ruth Harrison, has enabled the Trust to better identify people with learning disabilities before they attend the hospital, allowing us to make reasonable plans for how we communicate with them before, during and after their visit to hospital, as well as to make any other adjustments necessary.  The success of the scheme relies on working better with partner organisations to improve the whole patient.

As a result, more people are receiving equitable care at Sherwood Forest Hospitals.  There has been a reduction in non-attendance rates, with improved patient experience, and with carers feeling more valued.  Patients have also been better able to understand their own appointments letters, and telephone calls prior to appointments have allowed for reasonable adjustments to be made. 

Suzanne Banks, Chief Nurse at Sherwood Forest Hospitals said:

“We are extremely proud of our work to make the experience of care that people with disabilities receive in our hospitals better, so we’re really pleased to have been shortlisted for an important award – its deserving recognition for a great scheme, and a lot of dedicated hard work and compassion.  We’ve got our fingers crossed for the award ceremony!”

The team will find out if they have won at an award ceremony in London on Wednesday 21 November.

 

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