Tranforming inpatient care - neutropenic sepsis SWBH and WHT

Aim:
To use a 24 hour emergency alert to advise Newton 5 ward of known chemotherapy patient emergency admissions at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust (SWBH).

To ensure that intravenous antibiotics for neutropenic sepsis are delivered within the 1 hour door to needle time frame. This will be achieved by streamling the pathway to enable patient flow and reducing or eliminating unnecessary patient waits.

Objectives:

• To introduce the history examine action treat (HEAT) campaign to all emergency departments.
• To reduce length of stay and ITU/HDUu admissions.
• To ensure the admitting unit shift co-ordinator receives a phone call advising that patient may be septic and should receive antibiotics within 1 hour.

This approach is being spread to Walsall Manor Hospitals and the required IT changes are estimated to be complete in April 2011.

For more information on this workstream please contact Adrian Kearns:
Mobile: 07847 337118
Email: adrian.kearns@westmidlands.nhs.uk

Transforming inpatient care - neutropenic sepsis improving the door to needle time network wide

Aim:
Ensure that intravenous antibiotics for neutropenic sepsis is delivered within the 1 hour door to needle time frame. Spread learning achieved to all acute trusts in the Pan Birmingham Cancer Network to improve current service delivery.

Objectives:

• streamline the pathway to enable patient flow
• reduce or eliminate unnecessary patient waits

Progress/outcomes:
A three day reduction in average length of stay has been achieved at Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.  This has been facilitated by a 50% improvement in service delivery and more efficient patient management between clinical teams. Improvement in condition awareness and management has been achieved by introduction of staff and patient training.

For more information on this workstream please contact Marilyn McKoy:
Mobile: 07970 019185
Email: marilyn.mckoy@westmidlands.nhs.uk