A local health and care project has been announced as a finalist in the Best Emerging Product/Innovation in Patient Safety as part of the 2016 national Patient Safety Awards.
Health and Care Video library – a partnership between Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and Rocklands Media – is an innovative resource which is changing the way in which healthcare professionals communicate with their patients and use video in treatment pathways to improve self-management, increase capacity and reduce costs.
The rapidly growing library already has over 300 videos covering issues in a wide range of specialties and departments. These videos are available for trusts and healthcare organisations across the UK to use in their own treatment pathways meaning that trusts can be up and running with a wide range of video in just a few days.
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust themselves have over 200 videos on their public facing website; no other trust in the UK gives their patients access to such an extensive amount of digital healthcare information.
Video provides a simple way to help patients understand their treatment programme as well as reduce anxieties. As a result, patients can engage more actively in their care by accessing the information at a time to suit them in a way that they can understand.
Health and Care Videos also support staff training where they have produced videos covering areas such as diabetes, pressure ulcer prevention, care of the elderly, pain management, manual handling and safeguarding. All the videos have the option to add both English or foreign language subtitles, British Sign Language or be audio only which helps the Trust meet some of the conditions within the Accessible Information Standard.
Dr Matt Halkes, Clinical Director for Health and Care Videos and Head of Education at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Being shortlisted in the Patient Safety Awards has been a proud moment for us. There was tough competition for these coveted awards and whilst we were not the overall winners of the category, we are delighted to be a finalist. We have built up this library so that patients receive better care, risks are reduced, staff training improved and costs decrease. To have our hard work recognised by the Patient Safety Awards highlights what a valuable resource it is for patients and staff.”
Mairead McAlinden, Chief Executive at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Staff in this Trust are known for developing new solutions to difficult problems. The Health and Care Videos project is a really creative way to use everyday technology to provide information to our patients, clients and carers in a way that is accessible and user-friendly. It is a really good example of how innovative thinking and working with partners outside the NHS can enhance and complement the care we provide to our local population, and also support our staff in developing the skills they need to give great care.
“My sincere congratulations to Matt and his team on achieving this very well deserved national recognition for their work.”
The winners were announced at an awards ceremony on Tuesday 5 July in Manchester.
The full list of the shortlisted entries and the overall winners can be viewed online here: http://www.patientsafetycongress.co.uk/award_front
For more details on the Health and Care Video library visit www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/health-and-care-videos
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