County wide scheme to get babies home earlier shortlisted for national award

A COUNTY-WIDE scheme to enable early discharge from hospital for babies with on-going medical or nursing needs has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust’s Neonatal Community Outreach Team are celebrating after the scheme was named in the Health Service Journal’s Patient Safety Awards.

The team’s phototherapy at home scheme is among those in contention for the Community Care Initiative of the Year at this year’s awards.

Under the scheme, babies with on-going medical or nursing needs such as nasogastric tube feeding and home oxygen are able to return home sooner.

This year they have become one of the first outreach teams to implement phototherapy at home for babies who develop newborn jaundice.

Currently, babies require readmission to hospital for treatment of jaundice which can cause stress and anxiety for the family and possible separation of mother and baby.

Phototherapy is treatment with a special type of light. It is used to treat newborn jaundice by making it easier for a baby’s liver to break down and remove the bilirubin – a pigment made during the normal breakdown of red blood cells – from the baby’s blood. Phototherapy aims to expose a baby’s skin to as much light as possible.

The implementation of this new service has been welcomed by parents and has meant babies and families can stay together at home for treatment and has removed the need for admission to hospital.

Neonatal Community Outreach sister Rachel Cashmore said: “We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for the Community Care Initiative of the Year Award, shining a light on the efforts and dedication of our team over the last 12 months to successfully implement the phototherapy at home project.

On being shortlisted for the award, her colleague Sarah Parkins added: “We are committed to delivering care which is family centred for our babies on the neonatal unit, and to be chosen among the other incredible nominees is a wonderful achievement.

“This nomination has been a tremendous boost to staff on the neonatal community outreach team and we are sure it will bolster our continued efforts to improve our services.”

The final award winners will be selected ahead of the ceremony, which will take place as part of the Patient Safety Congress and Awards in Manchester in September.