Front-line and backroom teams at the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) have been short-listed for prestigious awards.
Radiology staff who provide imaging services across the hospital site in Harlow were the first to receive their nomination.
The team has been short-listed in the Digital Team of the Year and Digital Clinical Safety Award categories in the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards 2023 for introducing improvements.
The team was the first in the region to successfully implement an application called MedCurrent Clinical Decisions Support (CDS) iRefer, which supports clinical decision-making for all diagnostic test referrals.
Other improvements include going paperless by introducing a new workflow system and removing paper questionnaires for patients; integrating systems to enable efficient reporting and workflow processes; and moving to artificial intelligence (AI) modules for CT (computerised tomography) chest analysis. This significantly reduces reporting time for critical scans and increases the accuracy of the assessment.
The team has also moved to using voice recognition software so that secretaries no longer have to type out voice recordings, which has reduced delays in publishing reports.
The hospital’s communications team is also up for two gongs, in the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Excellence Awards 2023.
Last year, they introduced a new publication – written by clinical people for clinical people – which has become an established channel for sharing the latest achievements and updates at PAHT. It is short-listed for Best Publication. The team has also made the final few in the In-House PR Team of the Year category.
And a member of the executive team at PAHT has also been short-listed for an HSJ award. Phil Holland, chief information officer, is in the running for Digital Leader of the Year, recognising his role in driving forward a digital strategy which has also been adopted by the national New Hospital Programme.
Lance McCarthy, chief executive of PAHT, which also runs Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop’s Stortford and St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping, said: “I’m delighted to see our radiology team, communications team and Phil short-listed for these accolades – it reflects their dedication and passion.
“They work so hard behind the scenes to deliver seamless and effective services for our patients, visitors and people. They should all be extremely proud of this fantastic achievement.”
HSJ is a news service that covers policy and management in the NHS in England.
