The upper gastrointestinal (upper GI) team at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusthas been recognised in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) National Quality Awards Ceremony 2018 for the improvements that they have made to the emergency care of patients with acute biliary disease.
The team were recognised for their implementation of a new clinical pathway for acutely unwell patients to have their gallbladder removed within eight days of their emergency admission.
The work that the team has done has reduced the time to surgery for patients admitted with acute biliary disease. This has led to improved outcomes and experiences for these patients by reducing re-admissions and complications secondary to gall stone disease. 80% of patients with an acute biliary problem who are suitable for surgery have had their surgery within 8 days of admission.
The project was supported by the Royal College of Surgeons of England Chole Quic study and our Leadership Programme.
Vinutha Shetty, Consultant Upper GI Surgeon at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, led this project; making it one of the most successful hospitals in the country at this work. This is due to the efficient implementation of the new patient care pathway which involved establishing dedicated theatre sessions at Chorley Hospital for these patients.
Vinutha said: “We are very happy with the improvements that this project has made for our patients; who are able to be receive early definitive treatment and return to home quicker; thus improving the overall experience for these patients. The success of this project is due to the team effort of our upper GI surgeons, ward staff, theatre 6 team at our Chorley site, ward 11 staff, theatre three and theatre nine staff at Preston Hospital. The flow of patients between our two sites was co-ordinated by Linda and Pam in our surgical waiting list team.” “We are very pleased that this hard work has made a difference to our patients and that we have received national recognition for this.”