Croydon’s elective care teams scoop double nomination at UK’s leading medical awards
The work of some of Croydon’s innovative medical teams has been shortlisted twice in the BMJ Awards in recognition of its leading elective care programme, which is helping to reduce NHS waiting times despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust teams have been recognised for their clinical leadership in developing the Croydon Elective Centre, a hospital within a hospital dubbed a ‘blueprint for NHS recovery’, as well as an Enhanced Care Unit for higher risk surgical patients, who can now undergo treatment without the need for in-demand intensive care support.
Since its launch, the Croydon Elective Centre has treated over 10,000 patients with recent data showing that the Trust’s waiting list now is below pre-pandemic levels, an achievement that comes as a result of the clinically-led project.
Following the first wave of the Coronavirus pandemic, the team responsible for the CEC were eager to return to normal levels of planned care in the safest way possible. Their commitment to their patients saw them bring together a team of experts to completely transform the hospital layout and care pathway for patients in just seven weeks.
Stella Vig, Consultant Surgeon and Clinical Director for Recovery said:
“We’re incredibly proud of all that the Croydon Elective Centre has achieved since its launch in July 2020. These successes come as a result of some tremendous effort from not only doctors, nurses but estates managers, infection control experts, pharmacists, porters and many other staff, who are passionate about delivering the best possible care for Croydon patients.”
Alongside this, a Surgical Enhanced Care Unit (SECU) was established within Croydon Elective Centre, an innovation that has been shortlisted in the Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine Team category of the awards.
Maria Chereshneva, Lead for Anaesthetic Enhanced Care said:
“During the first wave, all high-risk patients were transferred to other sites for surgery, but this was a short term solution to a persistent problem. To allow elective surgery to restart for high-risk patients, we created the Surgical Enhanced Care Unit within our COVID-19 protected zone.
“The enhanced care concept allowed patients who would benefit from extra monitoring to do so without requiring critical care admission, allowing intensive care teams to continue caring for patients with COVID-19. It also allowed clinicians who could not work in COVID-19 areas to continue to deliver care in a protected environment.”
The winners will be announced at a virtual ceremony on Wednesday 29 September 2021 and further information about the awards can be found here.
The BMJ Awards recognise and celebrate the extraordinary innovative work of healthcare teams across the UK. The awards aim to promote excellence in healthcare, showcase knowledge and experience that will inspire others, and give exposure to teams who demonstrate courage and passion for overcoming challenges in our common mission to improve healthcare and research, to help doctors make better decisions, to promote partnerships with patients, and to build a healthier world.