As part of today’s annual NHS Fab Change Day (24 November), staff at University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) have used the opportunity to shine a spotlight on projects that are improving patient and staff care.

From a wide range of projects submitted by staff, a panel of staff and governors selected a number to receive further recognition, these included:

• enhancing care by improving the referral system at Poole Hospital – reducing delays in referrals to specialties

• IV fluids management – an improved prescription chart to ensure doctors have clear guidance on fluid rates and fluid choice according to the latest guidelines

• reducing the use of ethyl chloride spray to check cold sensation in anaesthesia – saving on CO² emissions and expenditure

• reducing the time to cholecystectomy surgery to treat gallstone disease

• optimising care for neck of femur (hip) fracture patients, through post-operative delirium screening and IV bone protection

• supporting staff with ‘long Covid’ (post-Covid 19 syndrome) with their return to work and activities in their life

Commenting on the day, Debbie Fleming, UHD’s chief executive, said:

“With one of our values being ‘always improving’ we knew that staff would be keen to tell us about improvements in their ward, department, or area.

“The high standard of the projects submitted was a testament to the ongoing commitment of teams across the trust to improving services.

“We were delighted to link our day of celebration to the national NHS Fab Change Day, as this provides a great opportunity to share our examples of innovation with a national audience.”

Dan Richter, improvement manager at UHD, added:

“Fab Change Day has traditionally been the biggest day of collective action aimed at improving the NHS.

“It has been a really hard time over the Covid period, but we are pleased that our staff have maintained their passion to improve.

“We wanted to celebrate this good news with staff across UHD and the NHS, and the wider public.

“All of the fantastic initiatives shared today demonstrate the difference one simple act can make towards large scale improvements.”

Fab Change Day is organised by the ‘Academy of Fab Stuff’, a national social movement for sharing health and social care ideas, services and solutions. More information on the day and UHD’s submissions can be found at www.fabnhsstuff.net



Photo: FAB Change Day at Royal Bournemouth Hospital. L to R: Isabella Zdesa (project manager), Jessica Good (dietician), Clare Mills (improvement manager).