Whole Organisation Change across an NHS Trust (video case study)
A large trust in South West England wished to embark upon a patient-focused improvement programme shaped around a quality and safety agenda. The trust recognized it needed to make a step change in its performance but also that such a programme would take place over several years. Thus the approach was to consider two phases, the first to prove out the methodology and approach through engaging staff and building internal capability followed by a second phase to roll-out the programme across the organization. KM&T were selected initially to support Phase 1 and through the success of this first phase asked to guide and support the trust through the roll-out.
This NHS Trust provides a service to a wide range of people across a great rural area, with a higher than national average of patients being over the age of 65. As the number of diseases and illnesses are increasing The Trust is struggling to cope with the demand of the patients and believe the service they provide could be improved to create better efficiency and less waste. By initially concentrating upon improving the Pathology Department the Trust believe they can make a difference to not only how the specimens they receive are processed, but to also reduce their turnaround times, which will greatly impact the swiftness of how inpatients are discharged from wards after their stay. To improve such an area in a step-by-step manner will also allow the hospital to work towards attaining a foundation status, which requires them to save £8m over the next two years.
The NHS Trust had recently consolidated services from neighbouring hospitals to a new facility. The resulting new facility had over 20 operating theatres. Surgical instruments are supplied to the theatres cleaned, packed and sterilized by on site sterile services department. The sterile services department as well as providing a service for the hospital also had external contracts with other NHS and private hospitals.
A large university hospital in North West England were looking to improve the performance and efficiency of the Elective Orthopaedic Theatres Operation. The approach was to focus on using Lean principles and hands-on methodology to design and implement a change programme which would result in major improvements.
This NHS Trust is a world renowned centre for the diagnosis and treatment of bone and joint problems. Treating patients from across Birmingham and the West Midlands it provides one of the largest spinal services in the country, and is one of only a handful of centres for the diagnosis and treatment of bone and soft tissue tumours. KM&T carried out diagnostic activity and the results highlighted substantial cost effective opportunities within the Trust to improve the patient experience and support the long term viability of the Trust. By initially concentrating upon improving the Theatre Department the Trust believes they can make a difference to not only the patient and staff experience but also to the Theatre utilisation through effective scheduling, start up and turnarounds. This activity supports the Trusts long term expansion and efficiency strategy.
