Heroic covid-19 effort one of many achievements for 2019-20, says chair sir Amyas Morse
New figures show that LNWH’s A&E departments received more than 955 admissions every day on average in that financial year, the fifth highest in England.
The NHS Trust’s latest Annual Report highlights the significant improvements and innovations being led by staff at the Trust even before 2020’s Covid-19 coronavirus crisis hit the UK. For example:
- A&E continues to be a key area of focus with the trust recording 348,669 arrivals during the year, the fifth highest number in the country.
- Forming a new X-ray, MRI and CT scan sharing network with five neighbouring NHS Trusts, enabling clinicians to collaborate and report more rapidly, improving care for cancer and stroke patients.
- The Covid-19 crisis in early 2020 was an unprecedented challenge. By March staff were working around the clock dealing with the first wave of coronavirus cases.
Sir Amyas Morse, Chair of London North West University NHS Trust, said:
“Across LNWH, our staff have pulled together admirably as a team, to come through one of the most difficult periods in NHS history. It has not been easy. There have been many personal sacrifices for the greater good. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to them and send them our thanks. Their professionalism, compassion, empathy, grit and determination to pull together and support each other and the patients we serve is deeply impressive.”
Chris Bown, Chief Executive, added:
“Our team of 8,000+ clinical and support staff serve a population of around one million people. We are proud to have one of the most diverse mixtures of staff of any NHS Trust in England, serving one of the most diverse populations in London.
“We are also a university teaching hospital, in recognition of the important role we play in training clinicians of the future and bringing the benefits of research to the public. We are proud to be a research active organisation, with more than 5,000 patients participating in ground-breaking research programmes every year. This includes taking part in the latest Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine research in collaboration with the University of Oxford and NHS National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).”
Finally, LNWH has been keen to drive technological innovation in hospital and healthcare settings. For example:
- Robotic surgery: Clinical staff at Central Middlesex Hospital celebrated the completion of their 250th procedure using robotic surgery for knee replacements. The hospital is recognised as a leading exponent of robotic surgery in Europe and will become a training centre for visiting surgeons.
- Digital services: The e-Portering app, developed by technology firm Infinity Health and implemented by our Digital Services and Emergency Department teams, won the Driving Efficiency Through Technology category at the prestigious Health Service Journal Awards. The app co-ordinates more than 100,000 transfer requests annually, giving hospital porters real-time information on patients.
- New virtual clinics: Despite Covid-19 many of our services continued to innovate in order provide care to patients with non-COVID-19 conditions, for example conducting outpatient appointments phone and video calls; and allowing loved ones to ‘visit’ patients in hospital via video calls.