Members of Shared Governance councils at NUH have used Shared Governance as a platform to present at National Conferences, publish articles in healthcare journals and successively receive national awards.
Shared Governance Councils at NUH have been recognised for their outstanding innovation and improvements, not just in the hospital but out in the community.
The Cardiac Speciality Shared Governance Council was pivotal in the rejuvenation of a space near the Trent Cardiac Centre at the Nottingham City Hospital. A disused, ugly space was transformed into a beautiful, restful garden for the benefit and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors.
The City Maternity Shared Governance council felt inspired to create a “Patient Information Mat” following a Leadership Council meeting, during which they heard from another ward area that had successfully designed their own patient information mat. Council members developed a maternity specific patient information mat. Staff members, patients and their families completed a survey to ensure it met the requirements for a maternity ward. The mat can be modified to suit maternity ward areas across both campuses.
The Paediatric Emergency Department Shared Governance Council identified the difference that could be made in the outcomes of adult, infant and child collapse if more people in the community knew adult and paediatric resuscitation. With this in mind, they set about planning and running a CPR Teachathon. This programme attracted interest both locally and nationally, and taught many people CPR techniques that could potentially save lives.
The initiative began during the monthly Shared Governance Leadership Council, where F22’s council Chair discussed the impact that waiting long periods for intravenous lines to be disconnected from patients has on the workload of healthcare workers and patient experience. The Chief Nurse encouraged them to create a gown that was fit for purpose. The current hospital gown was altered to have poppers on the sleeves, which meant patient cares could be completed whilst intravenous lines remained connected to the patient. Further research showed the gown was versatile to fit in with other specialities such as Maternity for skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding access, Emergency medicine, Orthopaedics, Healthcare of the Older Person and Ear, Nose and Throat care, making it an innovation transferable Trust wide. Patient Experience Network National Award Winner 2022- Strengthening the Foundation.
The BAME (Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities) Shared Governance council recognised the need for providing appropriate wigs for our BAME cancer patients who have experienced alopecia following chemotherapy treatment. Patients provided feedback about emotional trauma associated with the loss of respect and dignity when offered inappropriate wigs to go home in during their most vulnerable moment in life. The BAME Shared Governance council wanted to restore the patients’ dignity. The BAME Shared Governance council worked in partnership with local salons and hair specialists to provide patients a diverse choice in wigs and hair loss products. The overall outcome has been the dissemination and the transferring of the project across the Trust to all patients suffering from alopecia. Patient Experience Network National Award Winner 2023- Using Insight to Improve Equality of Care.
Fletcher Ward Shared Governance council identified an issue with the administration time of PPI’s on the Electronic Prescribing Medicines Administration (EPMA) charts. The original administration time meant that patients were not receiving their PPI’s before meals as recommenced. Council members discussed this at Leadership Council, chaired by our Chief Nurse who supported Fletcher Shared Governance council to work in partnership with the Digital Team to change the prescription time of PPI’s. The revised administration times mean PPI’s are given at the end of nightshifts, before breakfast and before evening meals as recommended.
HCOP Radio Project
The Health Care of Older People (HCOP) Shared Governance council identified the need to implement measures to provide cognitive stimulation and entertainment to their patients. The aim of their project was to provide each patient bay, and side room on their wards, with access to a radio. In partnership with Nottingham Hospitals Radio volunteer Steve, custom built-radios with a simple on and off switch were developed. The radios automatically connect to Nottingham Hospitals Radio when switched on and patients are able to request generation specific music, birthday shout-outs and participate in quizzes. Patient Experience Network National Award Runner Up 2023- Environment of Care.
D10 Shared Governance council identified a gap in staff knowledge and confidence regarding the care of External Ventricular Drains (EVD). The council pursued this as a project, and as a result, using a simple but innovative method, introduced blue pillowcases to identify those patients with an EVD. The council then went on to design and test, a nursing tool in the form of a sticker, which can be attached to the bed remote control. This work was shared at Leadership Council and the Shared Governance/Care Excellence Celebration Conference in 2021. Patient Experience Network National Award Runner Up 2022- Strengthening the Foundation.
