2009 Best use of IM&T to promote patient safety

Winner

Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Psychotherapy/ITC Service – Itinerant therapeutic community/out of hours service user-led e-support

Encouraging falls in rates of suicide, hospital admissions and self harm have been seen following an initiative in North Cumbria under the National Programme for the Development of Services for People with Personality Disorders. A key part of the service offered is 'P2P', an internet-based support network which enshrines therapeutic community principles.

Finalists

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust – Development of the Electronic Discharge Document

The Electronic Discharge Document Project (eDD) has introduced new working practices to improve discharge communication. The project has provided a tool to capture discharge information throughout the patient’s stay and send it to GPs electronically. Used in 50 wards for inpatient activity, eDD also provides information to support bed management.

Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Implementation of the Patientrack system

Staff at Manchester Royal Infirmary worked with Patientrack to implement and develop the company’s customisable IM&T product in two acute medical wards over a 14-month period. External analysis of the results by the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society’s clinical trials group found its use associated with a reduction in adverse events such as unexpected cardiac arrests, a 50% reduction in the number of critical care bed days and a 20% reduction in length of stay in acutely ill medical patients.