Radiographers in three teams have reached the finals of the 2010 Advancing Healthcare Awards.
The awards recognise the efforts of AHPs and healthcare scientists to improve healthcare practice and transform people’s lives.
Denize Vaile, a band 7 radiographer, and Keith Francis, radiology services manager, at the Velindre Cancer Centre were shortlisted under the ‘Rethinking the patient care pathway’ category for their radiographer-led breast cancer follow up service.
The service involves a team of specially trained radiographers who triage patients during their annual follow up mammogram.
“Before the service was set up we found that we were heading off a lot of the patients’ questions and concerns during the examination,” explained Denize. “The patients were then expected to return for an outpatients appointment, often unnecessarily.
“Now with the use of a five point questionnaire, radiographers are able to identify the normal varients after treatment, as well as the small percentage of patients at risk of developing metastatic disease. We also offer help and advice on side effect management.”
With around 80% of cases requiring no further action, the initiative has dramatically reduced the pressure on the outpatients clinic.
“It shows that follow up is a vital part of the patient care pathway and we are delighted that our service has been recognised by the judges,” said Denize. “We look forward to hearing the results!”
Joint working
Andy Brammer, site lead radiographer in x-ray at the Northern General, part of the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been shortlisted under the ‘Joint working’ category.
With the help of healthcare scientist Vivien Stevens, Andy and the other medical imaging and medical physics managers set up a web based system for radiographers to check protocol requirements for research studies.
“As a large teaching hospital, we can have as many as 130 clinical trials ongoing and the imaging requirements can be very specific,” explained Andy. “The system, which is based on the Trust intranet, allows radiographers to enter the name or the number of the trial and gain direct access to the necessary information.”
As well as being an effective clinical governance tool, the system has improved staff time and efficiency by removing the need to search for hard copy information. “And, as managers, we can be confident that radiographers are performing the examination, exactly in accordance with the trial requirement,” said Andy.
Effective supervision
Ann Tate, radiology manager at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and Chair of the Society's Northern Ireland Council, was part of a multidisciplinary team recognised in the 'Innovation in recruitment and careers development' category.
The aim of their project – 'Leading effective supervision for AHPs in the Southern HSC Trust' – was to plan, develop and implement a new and harmonised supervision policy for seven of the AHP professions (nutrition and dietetics, occupational therapy, orthoptics, physiotherapy, podiatry, radiography and speech and language therapy).
"Some of the AHP services had particularly well established supervision processes and cultures so the need to harmonise and standardise good practice was essential," explained Ann.
The new policy and procedures are being implemented within Southern Trust and a training programme is being progressed to influence the way forward for regional implementation.
Now in their fourth year, the Advancing Healthcare Awards are supported by all four UK health departments, NHS Employers, trade union Unite and the AHP Federation. The awards ceremony will be held on 12 March.
For information on all the finalists, visit the Advancing Healthcare Awards website.
