One year on: Hunter New England Health shares Garling Inquiry progress and sustainable change
Senior representatives from Hunter New England Health (HNE Health) will today meet with community members, allied health and diagnostic staff, doctors, nurses and non-clinical staff to share the progress achieved by the Area as part of Caring Together: The Health Action Plan for NSW.
The Caring Together Health Action Plan was developed in response to the recommendations made by Mr Peter Garling SC, following his Inquiry into Acute Care Services in NSW public hospitals in November 2008.
More than 60 people are expected to attend Monday’s Forum, with an opportunity for participants to take part in a series of workshops relating to the Area’s progress in implementing the Stage 1 recommendations.
Chief Executive of Hunter New England Health Dr Nigel Lyons said a number of recommendations had already successfully been implemented across the Area Health Service since the introduction of Caring Together.
“We’ve initiated a number of immediate changes to build trust and demonstrate our commitment to improving patient care,” Dr Lyons said.
“Importantly, Caring Together also provides a number of long-term recommendations that will gradually be implemented by Hunter New England Health to ensure they deliver genuine, sustainable improvements to both clinical care, and the way in which care is delivered.
“This Forum will provide us with the opportunity to update our staff and community on Hunter New England Health's progress in implementing Stage 1 recommendations, and seek feedback about our performance with regard to achieving awareness and introducing changes to clinical care as part of this process,” Dr Lyons said.
A number of initiatives have been implemented within Hunter New England Health as a result of Caring Together recommendations, including improvements to out-of-hospital care, recruitment to additional pharmacy and clinical support officer roles, the development of clinical resources such as a standardised Emergency Department Checklist, and improving staff identification for the benefit of patients.
A selection of case study presentations from Caring Together project teams will showcase a sample of the projects underway as a result of Garling Inquiry recommendations.
“Each project is about putting the focus on the patient as the centre of our health care system,” Dr Lyons said.
“We’re working to create better experiences for people in our care. We’re working with a talented group of people, including senior clinicians, management, junior doctors and frontline staff to ensure the successful implementation of Caring Together recommendations within Hunter New England Health,” he said.
Overview - Project Team topics to be presented at the Caring Together Forum:
Jenny Carter, Service Manager Patient Flow Unit
Clinical Communication and Handover Project Team
The Caring Together Clinical Communication and Handover team have undertaken a full baseline audit of the organisation’s clinical handover processes. The project team have identified areas to be targeted and are working to align local processes with state handover policies.
The project team have explored the community and patient experience of clinical handover, and will now work with local, state and national groups to further identify priority areas.
Dr Rosemary Aldrich, Associate Director Clinical Governance
Infection Control Project Team
A presentation from the Caring Together Infection Control project team will explore an Area-wide approach to the promotion and compliance of hand hygiene practices across Hunter New England Health. Work is underway to ensure all policies are reflective of the importance of hand hygiene.
More than 30 hand hygiene auditors have been appointed to monitor, assess and provide feedback to wards regarding compliance. A program has been established to assess the viability and availability of hand gel for patients and staff.
Leigh Darcy, Nurse Unit Manager
Coordination of Inpatient Care Project Team
The Essentials of Care program has been introduced in Hunter New England Health as a cultural change program for the workplace. It encourages clinicians, medical staff and nursing teams to work in a patient-centred environment, and identify the culture of the individual team, and make evidence-based changes where needed.
A number of units have already implemented changes to staff and patient communication, such as improving handover forms and introducing magnetic photos of staff at a patient’s bedside so that a patient can easily identify their treating team. 35 units have commenced the program, which is expected to double in 2010.
Media note: The Forum will take place at the Royal Newcastle Centre lecture theatre on Monday 30 November from 9-11am. Chief Executive Dr Nigel Lyons will be attending and is available for media interviews. For media enquiries, please contact Nicole Fuller on (02) 4921 4477 or 0408 665 019 (HNE Ref: HNE-2088).
Contact: Nicole Fuller
Phone: (02) 4921 4477