We are extremely proud to share that Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (DGT) has been shortlisted for three Nursing Times Awards this year.
The Trust’s ‘Emergency Department Familiarisation Visits’ project caught the eye of the judges this year and has been named as a finalist in two categories, namely; Emergency and Critical Care Nursing and Learning Disability Nursing.
The project, led by Cat Siggery - Learning Disabilities Liaison Nurse and Colette Chapman - Emergency Department Matron, aims to improve access to primary and acute healthcare settings for people with learning disabilities, who face significant barriers due to co-morbidities, lack of annual health checks, and hospital-related anxieties. The chaotic environment of Emergency Departments (ED) can heighten anxieties for these individuals, making it essential for them to be familiar with the setting and staff to reduce stress.
To address this, Cat and Colette engaged local community groups to participate in ED tours every six weeks. These tours include meeting staff, experiencing triage, exploring ambulances, and participating in activities like quizzes and Q&A sessions. The tours have been well-received by both participants and ED staff.
The project is also designed to help staff have a deeper understanding of the needs of patients with learning disabilities, value their differences, and make reasonable adjustments.
Moving forward, the team aims to establish an ongoing program with local communities and expand it to other hospital departments. Positive feedback indicates that participants feel more comfortable and less fearful about visiting the hospital, which may encourage them to seek necessary medical care in the future.
Well done to Cat and Colette for launching such a fantastic initiative and best of luck in the next round of judging!
The good news does not end there, DGT’s Children’s Hospital At Home Team (CHAHT) has been shortlisted for the ‘Nursing in the community’ award. This award requires entrants to demonstrate how their work has improved patient care or the effectiveness of their service and has outcomes to demonstrate this.
CHAHT was recognised for their innovative service that was launched in 2021 to handle expected rises in respiratory infections, following national healthcare plans and NHS England's 2015 initiative for community-based services. After consulting staff and service users, a baseline audit of 732 children and young people showed 37% of activities involved repeat visits for treatments, reviews and tests, highlighting the need for new care pathways.
The service launched quickly, focusing on high quality, safe care and expanding to meet demand. It shifted care from hospitals to homes, ensuring appropriate care in the right place. Now evolving into a virtual ward program, the team is expanding partnerships to enhance antibiotic coverage, remote monitoring, and diagnostic processes, demonstrating a proactive approach to healthcare challenges.
Fantastic work, team! We wish you every success as you progress to the next stage.
The Nursing Times Awards ceremony takes place later this year on Wednesday 23 October at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Good luck to all the finalists!