Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

NHS Wales has confirmed that the tender for the provision of unit haemodialysis (renal dialysis services) in West Wales has been completed. Following evaluation of the submitted bids by patients and clinical staff, the Minister of Health and Social Services has approved the recommendation to award the contract to Fresenius Medical Care Renal Services Ltd. Fresenius has a long history of providing dialysis in West Wales, as well as other parts of Wales and the UK, and is the current provider of dialysis services in the region. This contract with Fresenius is held by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board which provides renal services for the population of West Wales via the regional renal centre at Morriston hospital. The contract will start in September 2014 and run for a minimum of seven years. It will include: Providing a haemodialysis service at the 30 station permanent dialysis unit at Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen  Providing a haemodialysis service at the new 21 s...

Stop Smoking Wales, the free NHS smoking cessation support service, is looking for families and individuals to share how their lives have been affected by a life threatening or life limiting illness caused by smoking. A high profile marketing campaign, which will run from 8 September on TV, radio and print, will encourage some of the 21 per cent of smokers in Wales to quit with support from Stop Smoking Wales. Dr Julie Bishop, Consultant in Public Health for Public Health Wales, is leading the campaign. She said: “Research shows that one in every two smokers will die of a smoking related disease if they don’t quit. Sadly, most smokers underestimate this risk and don’t realise the harm they are doing to their life expectancy by smoking. “We know that one of the most powerful ways to motivate people to quit smoking is by hearing other people’s stories of the dangers of smoking and the devastating effects a smoking-related illness can have.” If you or your family would like to be involve...

Some 5,752 staff from across NHS Wales have completed at the least the opening level of the national learning programme Improving Quality Together in just one year - and numbers are continuing to grow. Improving Quality Together (IQT) was launched in March 2013 to give all staff in health boards and NHS Trusts the opportunity to develop a common approach and language to healthcare improvement. And as the first anniversary of the programme falls on NHS Change Day – a national movement to encourage staff to pledge do something to improve care – it’s a great opportunity to inspire even more staff from within Hywel Dda University Health Board to do IQT. Dr Alan Willson from 1000 Lives Improvement, the national improvement service in NHS Wales that delivers the programme, said; "We are delighted to reach this milestone of 5,752 staff completing the bronze level of the programme. "We are seeing the benefits of everybody speaking a common language of improvement and working towards ...

Hywel Dda Health Board | Achieving High Reliability is the theme for next 1000 Lives Plus National Event Staff from across NHS Wales are being invited to join experts in improving systems to achieve reliability in services, at the next 1000 Lives Plus National Learning Event, to be held in Llandudno on Thursday 8 November 2012. ‘Achieving High Reliability in Healthcare’ will include presentations and critical perspectives that will support NHS organisations in Wales to develop the skills and tools to ensure patients are receiving high reliability care. “This is going to become an increasingly important issue in the wake of the Inquiry into care at Mid-Staffordshire Hospital and the publication of the Francis Report this autumn,” says Dr Alan Willson, Director, 1000 Lives Plus.

Hywel Dda Health Board | Major fall in cases of C.difficile in Wales Efforts across Wales in 2011-12 to tackle C.difficile infections resulted in an overall reduction of more than 32 per cent. This means that 622 fewer patients were affected and about 37 lives saved. This significant achievement builds on the 2010-11 success of 789 fewer cases and about 50 lives saved. The zero tolerance of preventable HCAIs is part of the Programme for Government commitment to deliver better health for all. There are a number of factors which can increase the risk of HCAIs but robust, sustainable infection prevention and control minimises the risk. Healthcare organisations need to ensure staff have the skills, knowledge and resources to provide care in a safe environment for patients.

Hywel Dda Health Board | Wales’ nurses get a glowing report as standards of care improve A report published this week shows high levels of satisfaction among adult hospital patients in Wales, with more than 95% saying they feel respected by nursing staff. The third annual All Wales Fundamentals of Care Audit Summary Report brings together results from hospitals in Wales, all of which are now using the All Wales Fundamentals of Care Audit Tool. It aims to build on the momentum and achievements of recent years and help to deliver the wider ambitions outlined in the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government.

One in 10 households in parts of Wales visit A&E once a month - Wales News - News - WalesOnline One in 10 households in parts of Wales their local A&E department an average of once a month – because it is more convenient than going to their GP. Figures mapping A&E visits by postcode across Wales show those living near hospitals have the highest levels of use. Several of the areas where families visit their local emergency department most frequently are in the South Wales valleys, with CF47 – Merthyr Tydfil – seeing the equivalent of nine visits for every 100 homes. Just under 10% of homes in nearby Rhondda Cynon Taf record seek medical attention in hospitals at least once a month. Postcodes around Prince Phillip Hospital in Llanelli, Aberystwyth’s Bronglais Hospital and Wrexham Maelor Hospital all saw high levels of visits.

Hywel Dda Health Board | Improving quality reduces costs, according to new white paper NHS Wales can provide superior care while saving money according to a new 1000 Lives Plus white paper, described as a “pivotal document” by David Sissling, Chief Executive of NHS Wales. Improving Quality Reduces Costs – Quality as the Business Strategy contains case studies where care outcomes have improved while many thousands of pounds have been saved. It also outlines the exciting possibilities that can result from closer co-operation between clinical staff and financial managers when both are motivated to do what is best for the person receiving care.

Hywel Dda Health Board | Creating a person-centred healthcare system A new white paper from 1000 Lives Plus outlines some of the ways NHS Wales needs to adapt to become a healthcare system that is genuinely patient-centred. Person Driven Care captures the learning from The Esther Network in Sweden, which is often described as one of the best patient-centred healthcare services in the world. “The Esther Network has demonstrated that it is possible to devise systems and processes which align to provide patient-centred care,” says Dr Bernadette Fuge, Chair of Age Cymru, and one of the co-authors of the white paper.

Hywel Dda Health Board | Patient feedback to measure quality of NHS in future Plans designed to ensure patients in Wales receive excellent quality care, wherever and whenever they need it, have been published by the Welsh Government. Patient feedback will play a key role in the monitoring and improvement of healthcare services, with results published for all to see. “Achieving Excellence: The Quality Delivery Plan for the NHS in Wales 2012-16” meets a key commitment outlined in “Together for Health”, the Welsh Government’s five year vision for the NHS in Wales.

Hywel Dda Health Board | Teenage Conception Audit commences A Teenage Conception Audit has been implemented across the end of pregnancy services in NHS Wales as part of a project co-ordinated by Public Health Wales. The project is an All Wales targeted intervention aimed at pregnant young women who conceived before their 18th birthday. The intervention will be delivered through: maternity services termination of pregnancy services early pregnancy assessment units sexual health services specialist young person services (e.g. looked after children  nurse, drug treatment young person service)

Hywel Dda Health Board | Lowering stroke rates in Wales A new plan to ensure stroke rates in Wales are among the lowest in Europe by 2016 has been published for public consultation by the Welsh Government. Together Against Stroke aims to build on what has already been achieved in recent years, helping to deliver wider ambitions to improve services for those at risk of, or who have, a stroke over the next few years. The plan comes as new figures show how stroke care has already improved across Wales over the past three years.

Hywel Dda Health Board | Results of healthcare associated infections survey published Public Health Wales has published the Welsh results of a European study to collect data on healthcare associated infections, the use of medical devices and antimicrobial usage in hospitals. The Welsh Antimicrobial Resistance Programme and Welsh Healthcare Associated Infection Programme of Public Health Wales, together with 1000 Lives Plus, supported NHS Wales in running the Point Prevalence Survey during November 2011. All seven health boards in Wales, plus Velindre NHS Trust, participated in the survey, involving 9,094 in-patients. This is the largest survey of its kind conducted in Wales.

Hywel Dda Health Board | “Remarkable achievement”: NHS Wales breaks-even Health Minister Lesley Griffiths has congratulated Local Health Boards across Wales on meeting financial targets for 2011-12. The Minister thanked managers for what she called a “remarkable achievement” given the financial challenges facing NHS Wales. Provisional figures issued by the Welsh Government show all NHS organisations have met their financial targets in 2011-12, making a small surplus of £0.5million. The Health Minister said achieving financial balance had also been delivered against a pattern of general improvement and maintenance against key delivery priorities.

Hywel Dda Health Board | NHS Wales Data Dictionary v4.0 A new version of the NHS Wales Data Dictionary has been released and is helping developers design systems that comply with national standards. The ‘NHS Wales Data Dictionary’ is the definitive guide to the definition, collection and interpretation of nationally agreed data standards adopted by NHS Wales. It has been developed for anyone who is actively involved in the collection and reporting of data and the management of information in the NHS in Wales.

Hywel Dda Health Board | Registration opens for Welsh Public Health Conference Registration is now open for the second Welsh Public Health Conference being held on 18 July 2012 at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff. The conference, titled ‘Together for Public Health’ will have a very practical focus and is for policy makers and decision makers in the Welsh Government, NHS, local government and the third sector. The conference theme is based around Together for Health, the Welsh Government’s five year vision for the NHS in Wales.

Hywel Dda Health Board | Case studies highlight examples of patient and person driven care from across Wales 1000 Lives Plus is launching a series of case studies showcasing tools and techniques applied by teams across Wales to ensure their services are centred on the needs and wishes of patients and their families. “These case studies highlight the excellent and ground breaking work that is already underway in Wales to ensure that patients and families are at the very heart of NHS Wales,” says Annette Bartley, 1000 Lives Plus faculty lead for patient and person driven care.

Hywel Dda Health Board | National recognition for the all-Wales Enhanced Recovery after Surgery programme NHS Wales staff involved in work to improve the quality of patient care following major surgery are celebrating after winning a UK-wide award. Dr Rachael Barlow and Marilize du Preez were presented with the 2012 Advancing Healthcare Award for the ‘Research into Action’ category for the successful implementation of research findings in the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) programme. The awards recognised the work of allied health professionals and healthcare scientists in leading changes and making improvements within healthcare.