November 2020 - GIRFT stakeholder newsletter - Read online

stakeholder newsletter

November 2020

National reports for radiology and diabetes now published

The Getting It Right First Time programme has published two GIRFT national specialty reports this month, looking at radiology services and services for people with diabetes.

The radiology report - written by clinical lead Dr Katharine Halliday and advisors Giles Maskell, Elaine Quick and Lucy Beeley - outlines how improving the experience of patients should be at the heart of work to increase capacity in radiology services within the constraints of COVID-19. Recommendations include the separation of ‘hot’ sites for urgent imaging and ‘cold’ sites for pre-booked appointments, and dedicated day case units or beds for patients having interventional radiology procedures. You can read more and download a copy here.

The GIRFT diabetes report - published to coincide with World Diabetes Day - highlights actions to improve patient care in three key areas; inpatient safety, care for people with type 1 and diabetic footcare.

Authors Professor Partha Kar and Professor Gerry Rayman recommend measures such as establishing specialist multi-disciplinary diabetes inpatient teams (MDiTs) in every trust to ensure patients with diabetes are monitored and managed throughout their stay in hospital, and training for every healthcare professional who dispenses, prescribes or administers insulin, to help reduce insulin errors in hospital.

Read the diabetes report and download a copy here.

Four trusts accredited as Veteran Aware on Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day on 11th November saw the accreditation of four more trusts by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) for their commitment to improving care for veterans, reservists and members of the armed forces community.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust and North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust are the latest in a wave of NHS providers named as Veteran Aware, acknowledging their commitment to key pledges such as ensuring members of the armed forces community are never disadvantaged when receiving care.

There are now 58 NHS providers who have achieved Veteran Aware accreditation. Read more here.

Guide helps teams deliver best CVD services during the pandemic

A practical guide to help primary care teams across England overcome limitations created by COVID-19 and continue to deliver quality cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention services has been produced in a collaboration between the Oxford Academic Health Science Network (Oxford AHSN), GIRFT and the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society (PCCS).

Since the arrival of the pandemic, there have been lower detection rates for CVD risk factors such as hypertension and atrial fibrillation. Symptoms of stroke, TIA or heart attack may also have gone unreported. The new guidance aims to signpost primary care professionals to the right resources to address these and related issues.

The guide is published on the PCCS website here or click here for more information on the GIRFT website.

GIRFT lead takes on national specialty role

Dr Martin Allen, GIRFT's clinical lead for respiratory medicine, has been appointed as the NHS National Specialty Adviser for Physiological Measurement, overseeing national work around the diagnostic tests which assess the function of major organ systems, such as audiology to test hearing and balance, and their workforce.

His specific remit is for cardio-respiratory diagnostics – especially important following the publication of Professor Sir Mike Richards’ review of diagnostic services, Diagnostics: Recovery and Renewal, commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement, which addresses diagnostic strategy and community hubs. Read more here.

Video supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The GIRFT team showed their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October with a video outlining some of the findings and proposed recommendations of the forthcoming national report on breast surgery.

The 70-second video was shared on Twitter and LinkedIn to highlight the work of the programme in reviewing breast services across England. Watch the video here.

Framework and tool to support urology services

GIRFT has published a framework document, aimed at clinicians and managers in NHS trusts, describing the scope of work needed to build high quality and robust urology services for the COVID-19 era.

The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the delivery of elective surgical care, with a 50% reduction in normal activity levels at the height of the pandemic. The framework acknowledges that the way care is provided will need to be different for the foreseeable future and draws on work undertaken by the NHS in London to transform urology services.

The document also sets out existing examples of innovative practices and guidance, as well as a self-assessment tool which NHS trusts can use to monitor their own progress and plan their work. More information here.

GIRFT lead named among most influential BAME people in healthcare

Professor Partha Kar, GIRFT co-clinical lead for diabetes, was recently named by the Health Service Journal as one of the 50 most influential black, Asian and minority ethnic figures working in healthcare in England.

The list was made up of individuals who it is thought will exercise the greatest power and influence in the English NHS and the country’s wider health policy world in the year ahead. Professor Kar is named for his influence in the field of diabetes.

The full list, developed by the HSJ in conjunction with NHS England and NHS Improvement, can be found here.

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