Scottish microbiology team wins healthcare award
The medical microbiology team at NHS Fife were awarded at this year’s Advancing Healthcare Awards (AHA).
Held in London on 20th April, the team included IBMS members Dr Mairiead MacLennan, Lisa Logan, Stephen McGlashan as well as Robert Jones, Craig Ferguson and Donna Galloway. They won The Scottish Government’s award for Driving improvement, delivering results.
The team, led by Dr Mairiead MacLennan, created a point of care flu testing system in the emergency department at NHS Fife. This system allowed nursing staff to confirm whether patients had flu. Whereas this would normally take up to 24 hours to confirm, the system developed by the microbiology team shortened this process, making it possible for nurses to determine a diagnosis within as short a timeframe as 30 minutes. This system became essential during the severe snowstorms that affected areas of Scotland this winter.
Mairiead said, “We are grateful to our wider microbiology team supporting this project and also very much appreciate the positive responses from our nursing colleagues in both the emergency department as well as the infection control team to our initiative. Without the buy-in from the nursing staff using the near patient testing it would not have been the success it has been.”
Robert added, “I am absolutely delighted for this award. The whole team put a lot of effort in to bring this about, a lot more underground work than people will realise.”
Craig commented, “I am over the moon that the department’s efforts have been acknowledged in this way. This national award helps to emphasise the importance of earlier diagnosis on patient management. It is also a real morale boost for the team who went the extra mile to implement this in such a short period of time. I am hopeful that our success can be used to further explore the benefits of near patient (point of care) testing in NHS Fife.”
Stephen said, “From my point of view we are delighted to receive this award as it reflects the hard work the entire department does every day. Not only did this project demonstrate this but it also showed that we can break down traditional barriers and work out with our own silos. In addition to the effort made by the microbiology department, we could not have succeeded without the engagement and enthusiasm of A&E, acute admissions and infection control staff. It is gratifying that what we see as the day job is acknowledged as exceptional by our peers.”
Lisa concluded, “The major benefit I have recognised both personally and for our laboratory team, has been the close working relationships developed with the numerous NHS Fife staff and departments, especially the Emergency Department nurses, during the implementation and throughout the running of the point of care flu project and for me that was a key factor in our team winning this award. I hope we continue these working relationships and expand them even further.”
IBMS President Alison Geddis said, “I am delighted that the microbiology team at NHS Fife has received this award. It is wonderful to see our members receiving recognition for their exceptional work, and they are a credit to the profession.”
We wish the NHS Fife microbiology team our warmest congratulations on their achievement. Pictured above from left to right is Stephen McGlashan, Dr Mairiead MacLennan, Lisa Logan and Hazel Winning (Lead Allied Health Professions Officer, Northern Ireland Department of Health).