Primary Care Trust - Going for Gold

Winners with Mayor

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Rochdale PCT have announced the winners of the 'Going for Gold' Outstanding Service Awards, 2005  marking the long and loyal service of so many of team.

This year’s winners are examples of the pioneering and innovative work that is undertaken by the PCT to improve the health of the Rochdale community. Patients who use our local health services have benefited from more direct referrals, advanced patient care pathways and more culturally specific treatment.

This annual scheme is designed to reward staff for their work in making improvements, either individually or as a team, which is above and beyond usual practice. To win staff were required to demonstrate that they have:

• Improved patient care
• Enhanced the patient experience
• Improved the environment
• Reduced inequalities
• Reduced waste and inefficiency

The PCT has given three awards in Gold, Silver and Bronze categories which will be presented at the PCT’s Annual Awards Ceremony.

This year’s Gold Award recipient is Claire Platt and the Orthoptics team who will receive prize money of £600 and a trophy to keep for one year. The Orthoptics team impressed judges with their new joint Rochdale and Heywood & Middleton PCT screening programme. The amalgamation of Orthoptics, Child Health and School Health Support Workers has resulted in all reception children being screened for vision and growth defects.

Claire said: “I speak on behalf of the whole Orthoptic Team, Child Health and School Health Support Workers when I say that we were delighted to hear that our joint initiative had won and that all our hard work is to be acknowledged in such a public way. This joint working now ensures all children within the Rochdale Borough now receive full eye and growth screening in line with Government recommendations.  Children are assessed within the school environment eradicating the need for children to be absent from classes. Children requiring follow up eye care now access the relevant service more quickly. All staff feel they are actively involved in an excellent and innovative programme. Moral is high and joint working has increased team spirit across all departments and both PCTs.”

In the Silver Award category and winning prize money of £400 is Sister Rebecca Rigby, for the introduction of an out-patient Deep Vein Thrombosis pathway. The service is to provide a safe, fast referral for patients with DVT. The main advantage is that GPs can refer patients directly to the specialist nurse thus avoiding A&E entirely and ultimately reducing waiting times.

The Bronze Award winner, receiving prize money of £200 is Kath Oswald, supported by the Perinatal Depression Team. The development of the Dhoop Chaon Scales is an example of innovative practice which has directly contributed to reducing health inequalities for Asian mothers. Prior to this there were difficulties locally and nationally identifying Post Natal Depression within the Asian community. It has improved patient care and access to health services. Members of the Asian community have been involved in its department. This tool has now been validated locally and other Trusts now want to purchase the scales.

Debbie Abraham said: “I have once again gained immense pleasure from my involvement with this scheme for the second year running and it was great to hear the pleasure expressed by staff at having their contributions recognised.

'Going for Gold' aims to encourage and highlight best practice and to support outstanding service and quality improvement initiatives in all parts of the PCT. The winners were able prove they had achieved or demonstrated measurable improvements in the quality of patient care or service delivery. We were overwhelmed by the quality of the submissions made by our staff and found the judging very challenging. In my mind, they are all winners and exemplify the standards of patient care and staff innovation that I am keen to promote in primary care for Rochdale People

“This year the PCT will also be celebrating almost 3000 years of loyal service by our dedicated workforce. All PCT staff who has been employed by the NHS for over 20, 25 and 30 years will be applauded and rewarded on the night for their devoted contributions. Assisted by our innovative and enthusiastic staff we are committed to improving the health of the local community.”