Cannock team recognised for excellent partnership working page thumbnail

A team offering education and support to care home staff has been recognised for exceptional partnership working.

The Cannock Management Team and Urgent Response Service, which is based at Norton Canes Health Centre, has worked in partnership with the Rugeley GP Network to reduce the number of people in local care homes needing admissions into hospital or a GP call out.

The main aim of the Cannock Community Intervention Service is to prevent hospital admissions by undertaking home visits. This approach was adapted for care homes where staff were provided with advice and information on symptoms as well as investigations they could undertake and treatments they could trial before calling for further support. A team of Advanced Nurse Practitioners provided a daily phone call and visits if required.

By working together with care home staff they achieved a reduction in A&E admissions and GP call outs; however the greatest benefit was for the patients who were not transported to an acute hospital, but were able to remain at home.

The Midlands Partnership Better Together Awards are designed to recognise exceptional contributions to service, by individuals and teams, by clinical and non clinical staff. Over 165 nominations were received for the nine awards and following a rigorous process, supported by some of the Trust’s Governor Members and service users, the best entries were shortlisted, only finding out if they were winners on the night.

The Partnership Award recognises where working in partnership is clearly shown to improve the lives of others.

380 local NHS staff attended the event, held on 8 November 2018 at the Staffordshire County Showground, which is also an important opportunity for sharing good practice and helping staff to understand their role in the wider service. Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) provides physical and mental health, learning disability and adult social care services across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Shropshire, but also psychological therapies; drug and alcohol services in prisons; and care for serving MOD personnel across the country.

Neil Carr, Chief Executive said: “One of the Trust’s core objectives is to make this a fantastic place to work where staff feel positive and proud to be part of the organisation. We know that we cannot deliver effective services without well trained and supported staff and believe that offering real recognition in the form of this awards ceremony has a real part to play in creating an enthusiastic, committed and confident workforce.”