Around 160 people attended the Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) third annual quality improvement (QI) conference.
The day showcased improvement work which has been happening across the trust, including a project aimed at rapidly diagnosing autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), communicating better with parents about their children’s weight and working closer with acute hospitals to give more support to patients with learning disabilities.
There were also presentations on improving bereavement packs and improving podiatry care for patients at the end of their lives as well as the chance to learn more about patient experience champions, using QI tools and ways of working and data.
Guest speakers included Paul Devlin, from NHS England and Nicki Pointer, the founders of Kind Positive NHS who spoke about colleagues being their best. Paul spoke about the power of a smile, which he said can be “more powerful than penicillin” and had the crowd dancing and singing to Super Trouper to encourage everyone to get out of their comfort zones.
QI connector, change agent and founder of the #QITwitter movement Lou Waters was also part of the event, with the trust linking up with the Academy of Fab NHS Stuff too, with colleagues making fab improvement pledges.
Those who made pledges on the day included Annette Martin, matron at Faversham Cottage Hospital, who said: “I pledge to support my staff to leave work on time and not to check emails from home, to ensure a happy workplace.”
Wendy Winpenny, professional lead for podiatry, pledged to develop an auditing process to improve reporting of x-rays requested by podiatrists.
Trust physio, Burnett Hartzenberg, led a stretch, refresh and reinvigorate session after lunch, to get bodies, ideas and creativity flowing.
Delegates were able to attend virtually or in person, at the Riverside Church, Whitstable. At the start and the end of the day, those attending were asked to do an emoji check-in and to give emoji feedback.
The event ended with the winners of the conference poster competitions being announced by Dr Sarah Phillips, KCHFT Medical Director, who leads on QI at the trust.
The project on a page winner and runners up were:
First – Listening to bereaved relatives and carers, Jane Browning and Annemarie Hirst
Second – Home First refresh and reimagine, Amanda O’Neill, Caroline Hanlon, Anna Kitchingham and west Kent urgent care services
Third – Improving podiatry care for end of life patients, Mark Povey
The flash of brilliance winner and runners up were:
First – West Kent bed management, Kerenza Boulton and Peter Burleigh
Second – One stop shop solution to cows milk allergy wait times, Elaine Greenman
Third – Reducing the wait for elbow crutches, Shirley Rashid
Our winners pictured below:
