Last updated 05:29, Friday, 16 May 2008

TODAY we reveal the two teams shortlisted for the prestigious Public and Patient Involvement Award, sponsored by Cumbria Primary Care Trust.

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It aims to recognise those who have involved patients, carers and other service users in discussions about all kinds of service developments.

Of the many nominations received, judges have singled out north Cumbria’s maternity service and the Cumberland Infirmary’s Maple C/D wards for their unique work.

The maternity team incorporates staff working at the Cumberland Infirmary, West Cumberland Hospital and Penrith Birthing Centre.

Together they have worked hard to develop a culture of openness and involvement with the women using the service and actively encourage all kinds of feedback, whether it be positive or negative.

This includes a post-natal listening scheme, which offers women and their families a chance to come back and discuss their experience with members of the team. The feedback is then used to develop further improvements.

There is also a post-natal reunion so new mums can get together, discuss problems and support each other.

The maternity service has also established a Labour Ward Forum and Maternity Service Liaison Group, which gets staff, service users, midwives and other professionals together to share ideas and problems.

Anne Musgrave, head of midwifery for north Cumbria, said this new culture has led to all kinds of improvements across the maternity service.

“From our point of view the most important thing is that we take our women seriously and make them feel valued.

“We want to know what they think and in turn we want to be open and honest with them,” she said.

“They have been so supportive to many of the changes we have made, which means everyone is happy. And if an idea isn’t possible for whatever reason we can explain why. We have to be careful not to make assumptions about what women want, which is why listening is important.

“We try to look at everything through the eyes of our women. They are more than just users of our service,” she said.

Recent developments include improvements to the breastfeeding support service and a postcard scheme, in which new mums are encouraged to give written feedback on good and bad aspects of their care.

The second team shortlisted for the Patient and Public Involvement Award are responsible for the Maple C/D wards at the Cumberland Infirmary.

They have also used patient feedback as a basis for development improvements, which have in turn created a real sense of pride among both staff, patients and visitors.

One of the key factors is encouraging cleanliness to help combat hospital superbugs.

Inspired by the Matron’s Charter – which promotes the ethos Our Ward, Our Problem, Our Solution – the team decided to look at how they could make changes for the better.

Feedback revealed to staff that patients had a lot of misconceptions about MRSA and general hospital cleanliness.

This prompted them to introduce special ‘welcome cards’ for new patients, explaining hygiene controls and how they are a joint responsibility.

It also certified that their bed frame, mattress, locker, table and other equipment had been thoroughly cleaned prior to their admission.

The response has been excellent, with staff receiving lots of positive comments from patients who felt reassured and more relaxed as a result.

The welcome cards are now starting to be used across the trust and some community hospitals. They have even been looked at by the Edinburgh Royal Hospital, which is keen to launch a similar scheme, while Nursing magazine recently carried a feature about the welcome card scheme.

Ward sister Clare McKenzie said it makes patients more aware of what has been done and how they can help to control the spread of infection.

She added that they can now feel confident that nurses are performing these vital tasks to keep the wards spotless.