Essex project improving care for elderly patients wins national award
The new tool enables everyone involved in a patient’s care to better understand their needs
A new care co-ordination system improving personalised care for thousands of frail and elderly patients across Mid and South Essex has won a national award.
The electronic frailty care co-ordination system, a partnership project between Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), has been named winner of an HSJ Award in the category of Data-Driven Transformation.
The new tool enables everyone involved in a patient’s care to better understand their needs and ensure they receive personalised and joined up end of life, frailty and dementia care.
An electronic data collection system and care template allows health care professionals providing both physical and mental health care, including GPs, community teams, care home staff, hospice carers and emergency care practitioners, to see all care provided, avoiding duplication and ensuring it aligns with the patient’s care choices and personal care plan.
The system is already having a positive impact on patient care, reducing incidents of patients being re-admitted to hospital following discharge and supporting patients to make decisions about their care and future.
Spencer Dinnage, Operational Service Manager for Older People’s Community Mental Health, Dementia and Frailty at EPUT, said: “It is amazing to see the work which started in a very small project nearly eight years ago now recognised at a national level with such a prestigious award.
“This data driven work to reduce inequalities, improve outcomes and experience for patients, and reduce system pressures is a fantastic achievement of integration and collaboration between so many system partners.
“I am so proud to have been part of this work from the very beginning and of the whole team who have been on the journey with FrEDA and eFraCCS - this recognition could not have been achieved without this fantastic group.”
Dr Matt Sweeting, Interim Medical Director and Ageing Well steward at the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board said: “This is absolutely terrific news. This work is a real example of what can be achieved through working together and agreeing best-practice through evidence-based, personalised, and proactive input from different staff working across different health organisations across our system. We are now able to better identify and support people earlier to achieve safer, smarter care earlier in peoples care journey.”
The winners were announced at an award ceremony in London on Thursday 16 November.