“The team works” – Award of Excellence gives a glimpse into Day Case Unit
A team of nurses and operating theatre staff working in the Day Case Unit at Epsom Hospital are the most recent recipients of the Chief Executive’s Award of Excellence, having been recognised for their exemplary team work.
By working closely together, the team ensured that seven patients could all undergo surgery in just one morning – helping to make sure patients received the care they needed in a timely manner and that the busy operating department could keep running smoothly with no delays.
Chief Executive Daniel Elkeles explained: “While it is usual for each surgeon to operate on five patients before lunchtime in the Day Case Unit, one morning saw Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Cobb booked in to operate on seven patients. And, with more patients booked in for surgery in the afternoon, the team had to make sure everything ran smoothly in order to avoid delaying later patients. Mr Cobb was so impressed with how the team efficiently negotiated all seven procedures, (four arthroscopies – a type of keyhole surgery to diagnose and treat joint problems, two bunion removals and a foot operation), that he wrote to me to tell me just how well the team had worked together.”
As a result of their hard work and efficiency, staff nurses Marites Asia and Ivy Anderson, Healthcare Assistant Gary Durumpili, Operating Department Assistant Andy Baxter, ward staff Nicola Doyle and Jenny Scott, recovery nurses Pat Allen and Maripaz Bernardo, and anaesthetist Dr Reeta Salvi have all been presented with the Chief Executive’s Award of Excellence.
Daniel added: “Along with Mr Cobb, I am very proud of how this group of colleagues functioned as a team that morning, working with what sounds like the concerted efficiency of a Formula One pit crew! Safely treating and discharging seven patients in less than four hours is no easy task and involves different teams of staff in different areas interacting seamlessly to ensure not a moment is wasted.
“It’s important that we stop and celebrate the success stories that occur in surgery every day that we don't often hear about. When we consider that there is no margin for error in surgery, it tells me that each one of our theatre and recovery staff has to be operating at 100% to consistently provide support to our surgeons, so that we deliver the highest standard of quality care to our patients. Congratulations to Marites, Ivy, Gary, Andy, Nicola, Jenny, Pat, Maripaz, and Dr Salvi. Well done, the team works!
“Along with the Day Case Unit team, I’d also like to thank the surgical teams at both Epsom and St Helier hospitals for the amazing work they do for our patients.”
The award provided an interesting insight into Epsom Day Case Unit, and how the department functions to safely treat and discharge so many patients on a daily basis. Patients arriving are usually booked in at 7.30am before being admitted to the ward to be checked prior to surgery. Just after 8am, anaesthetists and surgeons will then meet their patients before assembling with the rest of the theatre team at 9am to determine the theatre list. The first procedure will then normally begin at 9.15am. Each patient will need to be prepared before surgery and given that an arthroscopy usually takes around 45 minutes, the theatre list needs to run like clockwork. After surgery patients are then taken to a recovery ward whilst the operating theatre is cleaned and reset for the next procedure.
The Chief Executive’s Award of Excellence is presented to a member of staff nominated by patients, visitors and/or their colleagues. If you would like to make a nomination, please visit www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/nominate. Winners are presented with a certificate and gift voucher in recognition of their achievement.
