Welcome to our Partner Brief for August 2024.
I am pleased to share this month’s update, highlighting the progress we’ve made at the Trust throughout the summer months.
From improved patient satisfaction to the embedding of our new surgical robot, these successes are a testament to our continued commitment to quality care.
We are also excited to share news of our innovative projects, including the AI-driven initiative for managing pressure ulcers, as well as encourage partners to share their views as part of our strategy refresh.
Your support is vital as we continue to build on these achievements. I encourage you to read on and discover more about our plans for the future.
Together, we can ensure our Trust continues to provide excellent healthcare for our communities.
Improved scores following Adult Inpatient Survey
We are pleased to share that the Trust has received significant improvements in patient satisfaction, as reflected in its latest Adult Inpatient Survey results.
hese enhancements are particularly evident in areas related to food quality and assistance with meals, underscoring the Trust’s commitment to enhancing the overall patient experience during their care.
The Adult Inpatient Survey, conducted annually, is a vital measure of patient satisfaction. All eligible organisations in England are required to participate, with the 2023 questionnaire developed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and their Survey Coordination Centre.
In 2023, DBTH transitioned to a new food supplier, reinstating a full menu with a variety of options to suit patient preferences and dietary needs. As a result, 71% of patients rated the food as very good or fairly good, marking a notable 9% increase in positive responses from last year.
Your feedback: DBTH strategic priorities stakeholder feedback
In May we shared with you our refreshed our vision statement and supporting priorities to better reflect our commitment to continuous improvement and excellence at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals.
This can be summarised the below.
Our vision:
- Healthier together – delivering exceptional healthcare for all
- Patients: Providing safe, exceptional, person-centred care.
- People: Fostering a supportive, positive, and welcoming environment.
- Partnership: Collaborating to enhance our services with clear goals for our communities.
- Pounds: Ensuring efficiency and wise spending of public funds.
We are now seeking your invaluable input to help shape our long-term strategic direction. Your insights will ensure our Trust Strategy is dynamic and responsive to both our ambitions and those of our key partners.
- Where are we now? (Understanding our current challenges and opportunities)
- Where do we want to get to? (Identifying our future focus and goals)
- How do we get there? (Determining the steps and decisions required)
- How will we know we have arrived? (Defining what success looks like)
To help us with this work, it would be appreciated if you could take the time to complete the questions here.
The deadline for this piece of work is Sunday 8 September at 11pm.
Thank you for participating in this important piece of work.
New imaging facility marks a crucial stage of development in topping out ceremony at Montagu Hospital
In late July, senior colleagues at the Trust visited Montagu Hospital to assess the progress of the site’s Community Diagnostic Centre Imaging Suite – a facility, which once complete, will provide tens of thousands of diagnostic procedures annually.
To commemorate the occasion, colleagues from the Trust, IHP Building, P+HS Architects, and Edge Construction Project Management participated in a topping out ceremony. This marked the completion of the structural construction phase, with focus now shifting to interior installations, with the building on track to be completed by the end of the year.
The state-of-the-art facility, which will house CT and MRI scanners and an ultrasound suite, has reached its highest point in construction. This week, the roof will be made watertight, and the internal walls will be installed. Additionally, a purpose-built brick substation will be equipped with electrical installations in early August.
The imaging suite, part of the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), represents an investment of over £16 million into the future of services at Montagu Hospital, underscoring the Trust’s commitment to the Mexborough site’s future potential.
Innovative AI Study to help improve the prevention and management of pressure ulcers
A new research study has launched at the Trust is investigating how artificial intelligence (AI) can help improve the prevention and management of pressure ulcers.
The AI-powered system will take patient data (for example: age, height, weight, pressure ulcer risk factors and stage of ulcer) to develop a personalised care plan based on expected outcomes, by suggesting a treatment plan which is also the most efficient and effective treatment whilst being lowest carbon and economic cost.
The study, conducted by Scientists at Tunley Environmental, is currently in its early stages at DBTH, the only NHS Trust involved. The study is currently in its data collection stage, meaning that clinicians are collecting anonymised data about patients with pressure ulcers, pressure ulcer prevention and treatment plans, and the outcomes and then feeding this data to the AI tool.
The data collection phase will last for around a year and then move into the second phase, where, based on the past data it has collected, the AI tool will suggest a personalised clinical pathway for a patient based on all the factors above and considering the economic and carbon cost.
New surgical robot already transforming lives with over 20 successful surgeries
Doncaster Royal Infirmary’s Da Vinci Surgical XI robot, named “Robi Sheldon Alan Surgeonator” or simply “Robi” for short by public vote, is now fully operational, and has successfully performed over 20 surgeries across two specialities.
The introduction of Robi has already begun to transform the way DBTH performs cancer surgery, specifically for colorectal cancer patients.
In addition to gastrointestinal surgery, this month the robotic surgeon has undertaken its first urology procedures. The first three robotic radical nephrectomies performed at DBTH in July.
A radical nephrectomy involves the surgical removal of a kidney, typically to treat kidney cancer, and the use of robotic surgery enhances precision and improves patient outcomes.
From hospital hallways to Olympic glory: The Doncaster Service Assistant who captured Team GB’s triumphs in Paris
Graham Beardsley, a dedicated Service Assistant at Dthe Trust has recently returned from an extraordinary experience at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he worked as an accredited photographer.
Graham, who has worked diligently at Doncaster Royal Infirmary since the COVID-19 pandemic, spent 10 days in Paris covering Triathlon events, commissioned by British Triathlon and Team GB.
“It was an amazing experience to be part of such a prestigious event, surrounded by some of the world’s best photographers.” said Graham.
“The energy, the atmosphere, and the sheer talent on display was incredible. Covering the success of Team GB, especially in the Triathlon events, was an absolute honour and seeing our athletes compete and succeed on the world stage was truly inspiring.
I was there for ten days, fully immersed in the action, and I am already looking forward to returning for the Paralympics at the end of August, where I’ll be covering the events for six days.”
Graham will continue his dual roles, balancing his passion for photography with his commitment to supporting the NHS, as he prepares to cover the Paralympic Games later this month.
Operational activity
Below you can see our activity in July, broken down by type of patient, and where these individuals received care and treatment.
Media and communications
Every month, the Trust publishes a number of items via its external channels to highlight developments at the Trust.
Contact the team
The Communications Team looks after media and stakeholder relations, digital communications, internal communications and patient information for the trust. The Communications Team should be the first point of contact for all media requests.
Thank you for reading!
The next edition of this newsletter will be available in mid-September. If you have any questions, please contact emma.shaheen@nhs.net or call 01302 644244.
Content out of date? Information wrong or not clear enough? Report this page.