IT news: London trust scoops top award for waiting list solution
AN IT project aimed at reducing waiting lists, improving patient care and increasing theatre efficiency across a London hospital trust has scooped first prize at the inaugural HSJ Efficiency Awards.
North West London Hospitals NHS Trust and solutions provider, Newton Europe, were named winners of the Efficiency in Information Technology category at the 2011 ceremony for their efforts to use joined-up information systems to enhance services.
The pioneering work led to an overall reduction in waiting list initiative (WLI) spend of £890,000, from £1.25m to £360,000. The technology deployment also increased theatre efficiency by 10%, delivering the extra capacity needed to treat elective surgery patients.
Commenting on the award, Andrew Hawes, director of Newton Europe, said: “The information systems can be adapted to meet the individual needs of organisations, taking data from a variety of existing theatre systems, or they can be used with our own data capture modules.
“The improvements carried out in theatres have direct financial savings which can help towards the national scheme of improving efficiency required of all hospitals as part of the £20billion target for 2015.”
A spokesman for North West London Hospitals NHS Trust said the project had improved scheduling in the operating theatres; provided greater visibility of lists to surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre staff; and improved the quality of data relating to delays and cancellations.
Highly commended in the same category were NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent, NHS Medway and PCTI Solutions for their electronic document transfer solution; and NHS Sefton for a project delivering interactive health services via digital TV and mobile phones.
Ric Thompson, managing director of PCTI, said of its win: “We are proud to have been recognised as an innovative solution for joining up healthcare and connecting all. The solution demonstrates real interoperability and has made a significant impact for trusts, GP practices and patients.”
Speaking about its Looking Local service, which enables people to access vital health information even if they do not have a home computer, David Hammond of NHS Sefton added: “Being highly commended shows how important it is to give people information in a way that works for them. This helps them find and choose the best services and live a healthy lifestyle.”
