Digital whiteboards and oxygen wristbands were just two of the quality improvement (QI) projects a VIP visitor was told about during a visit to Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Hugh McCaughey, National Director of Improvement with NHS England/Improvement, met colleagues at Trinity House in Ashford and Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital.
Hugh was welcomed by the trust’s Medical Director Sarah Phillips and Director of Finance Gordon Flack – along with members of the QI team. He heard about the trust’s QI journey so far and officially opened a new QI wall by cutting a ribbon.
He met QI project leads and heard about a new evaluation tool to measure capacity and demand, a project where the trust is working closely with a school in Maidstone, a new web page which has involved asking those who use services what information they would find helpful and three projects which are making improvements in the podiatry service.
He also attended a ward huddle, where colleagues discuss patient care, as well as making sure they are ok themselves. Huddles are a tool recommended by NHS Improvement.
During his visit Hugh said: “Everyone can get involved in improvement. It is something we can all get involved in.
“It’s about empowering staff on the frontline.”
The National Director of Improvement said he’d seen “impressive” work during his visit and hoped examples of good work and projects could be shared nationally.