Outcomes - North Region
Regional Champion: Jerry Morse
Jerry is responsible for communication with Grampian, Highland, Orkney, Western Isles, Shetland and Tayside Health Boards, and the University of Aberdeen, the University of Abertay Dundee, the University of Dundee, Robert Gordon’s University, the UHI Millennium Institute, and the Open University.
Regional divisions for the CS MEN were determined pragmatically: because each Regional Champion is seconded to the Network for only 4 hours a week the workload was divided to make communication manageable. We are aware that the divisions used differ to others used in the NHS and by the SFC, and are facilitating cluster groups that cross the regions we are working with (for example between the Universities of Abertay Dundee, Dundee and St. Andrews), recognising that clinical skills do not fit neatly within three regions.
Now in its third year of operation, the CS MEN has set ambitious Key Performance Indicators for 2010 for each region. For the North, these are:
Quality assurance KPIs
By the end of 2010, each Health Board will have been invited to adopt the self-assessment questionnaire, successfully piloted by the CS MEN in 2009, to assist its internal QA processes. The questionnaire sets out 9 key standards that simulated skills sessions should meet, and Jerry is available to assist Boards in implementing them.
The first Board to be adopting the questionnaire is NHS Grampian, where work has begun, with a target to have the questionnaire completed for 30-40 education sessions by the end of April.
After NHS Grampian, use of the questionnaire will be rolled-out to NHS Tayside, NHS Shetland, NHS Highland, NHS Orkney, and NHS Western Isles.
Adoption of the questionnaire by all Boards will assist in the transfer of skills, and negate the need for a costly skills passport to be introduced.
Resource development KPIs
The CS MEN will be developing additional skills packs to meet locally and nationally identified training needs, in priority areas. Members from the North will be invited to participate in determining content or the review process for new packs, and will lead on resource development for Urinary Catheterisation, incorporating the multiprofessional work being done in Fife and Tayside; Arterial Monitoring Lines, incorporating work already done by Rona Patey, University of Aberdeen, and multiprofessional work in Fife and Tayside; a Safe Communications pack being developed by Jean Ker, University of Dundee; and Suturing, which was developed by Prof Ron Keenan (University of Aberdeen) and Jean Ker and is now in the review stage of our QA process.
If you would like to help in the development of any of these packs please contact me at jerry.morse@abdn.ac.uk
Mobile unit KPIs
The CS MEN will roll out a national programme of Prescribing for Pharmacists and Jerry will support this by contacting pharmacists in remote & rural parts of the North region. It is also intended to pilot the “Pre-hospital mental health care” national programme led by RRHEAL in remote areas and Jerry will assist with this.
There is a need to find, train and second a pool of drivers for the mobile unit from all regions, and Jerry will liaise with Scottish Ambulance Service to identify suitable individuals. It is also necessary to train more faculty to deliver courses through the unit and Jerry will liaise with stakeholders in Aberdeen and Inverness to enable them in turn to train 20 more people per region. Places can be funded only in return for a commitment to deliver sessions on the unit which will be centrally coordinated through Jerry.
If you would like to apply for the faculty development course, please contact me at jerry.morse@abdn.ac.uk
Network KPIs
Jerry will work to consolidate the network in the North by holding regional consortia meetings in Aberdeen (19th March) and Inverness (14th April). The meetings will look at the quality assurance process for clinical skills sessions, showcase some of the packs CS MEN has developed and provide an update on the mobile skills unit. If you would like to attend, see the News page for further details.
It is hoped to run faculty development days in the region and Jerry will initiate group meetings with Health Boards and HEIs to this end; for example, a Local Cluster Group comprising the Universities of Dundee, Abertay and St Andrews has agreed to deliver three half day professional development sessions at the universities by summer.
Research and Development KPIs
R&D monies of £24,000 are available to fund small projects in the North region and it is envisaged that the research should focus on topics around human factors; transferring skills from simulation into practice; or measuring the impact of skills education. The research should have demonstrable benefit to the patient experience or patient safety and Jerry will be responsible for ensuring that suitable researchers are made aware of the application procedure. Decisions will be made on the potential impact of the research findings which researchers would need to have published in a quality journal; and awards will be approved by NHS Education for Scotland to further ensure impartiality. A process for requesting funding is being developed and details will be announced at the end of February.
