LOCAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HIGHLY COMMENDED IN REGIONAL NHS

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A local team of health professionals from a range of NHS services have been highly commended in this year’s NHS Health and Social Care Awards in the category of ‘Success in Partnership Working’. The team have worked together to improve care for residents living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Thanks to a unique and innovative partnership between Southend University Hospital, NHS South East Essex, Breathe Easy, University of Essex, local GPs and the East of England Ambulance Service local residents now benefit from an improved service which includes new clinics outside of a hospital environment, closer to their homes.

COPD is the fifth biggest cause of death in the Essex area and in 2009/10 £1.6million in hospital admissions alone. In 2009, NHS South East Essex commissioned an integrated COPD service to ensure those receiving care did so effectively and seamlessly beyond the boundaries of the hospital walls. Expertise was extended both physically in community clinics provided by Southend University Hospital, and intellectually, with a certificate in respiratory medicine developed for everyone involved in the COPD patients care, ensuring necessary skills are in place to deliver quality care in the community.

Katherine Kirk, Chairman NHS South East Essex said: “I am thrilled that this service has been recognised and highly commended, it is a testament to the hard work of health professionals across south east Essex. The NHS is full of dedicated professionals who strive on a daily basis to do the best for their patients. An award scheme like this recognises those who have worked hard to deliver innovations within the NHS.”
Henry Winder, aged 72 and suffering from terminal respiratory disease has benefitted from the improvements in the COPD service. For the past two years, Henry had been making regular trips to Southend University Hospital, however he was beginning to struggle with the 10 mile journey. Community Matron Lesley Morton, noticed Henry’s struggle and after discussion, Henry was transferred to a new clinic in Canvey led by Professor Tony Davison, which is one mile from his house.

Mr Winder’s wife Bridie said: “The move made him much happier and he is delighted with the treatment he is receiving from the clinic. He got to the stage where he couldn’t walk very well and found it very difficult to get to the hospital, it was such a hassle and struggle for him. He used to say, ‘I cannot bear it; I really don’t look forward to going there’ so they transferred him to Canvey.”
Professor Tony Davison from Southend University Hospital said:

“We are all proud of what has been achieved so far and are confident that the future will bring ground-breaking new developments as the project continues to evolve. We are proud too that patients say they like the way it’s working, because they are the real people we are working for.”