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21st May 2009

Mid Essex Hospitals scoops national awards

Mid Essex Hospitals scooped two prestigious awards last night.

The Trust’s yellow dominoes project got the top award in the patient safety category in the NHS East of England Health and Social Care awards.

"Yellow Dominoes" is an infection prevention project that has reduced infection rates and improved patient safety throughout the mid-Essex health economy. The team has introduced a number of initiatives and engaged staff, patients and visitors in infection prevention.

One of the schemes introduced is the systematic cleaning of each bed and bed space between each patient, according to a standard operating procedure, followed by the application of a green ribbon around the bed, signifying to the new patient and their relatives that„their area is safe for their clinical care to commence. This visual assurance that a bed and surrounding area has been cleaned to a high standard, gives patients confidence in the hospital and also reinforces pride for cleaning staff at having done a good job.

The Trust’s new Wet Age Related Macular Degeneration Clinic was the runner up in the innovative healthcare category.  This uses a pioneering one-stop model to provide patients from Essex with the, previously unavailable, option to be assessed, diagnosed and treated in a single visit at an easily accessible new centre.

The annual awards are the flagship event for health and social care in the region. This year saw a record 145 entries - a 40 per cent increase on the number of entries received last year.

Keith Pearson JP, Chairman NHS East of England and Chair of the judging panel, said, "Health and social care in the east of England is of exceptional quality and nothing showcases this better than the finalists in the regional Health and Social Care Awards.

“The awards are an excellent example of the ever-increasing relationship between health and social care.

"I am thrilled we have received such a high number of high calibre entries.

The quality and abundance of superb health and social care initiatives across the region goes to show that we are making real progress in achieving our aim to deliver the best health service in England.”

The Trust's cleaning services team are also celebrating after winning team of the year in the Health Estates and Facilities Management Association Awards.  The award demonstrates that they have consistently delivered excellent services to their customers including patients, staff, and visitors.

Ruth May, Chief Executive of Mid Essex Hospitals, said:” :”I am delighted for the teams involved and everyone at the Trust as these awards recognise the good work that takes place here.  Winning these awards is also good news for our patients as it gives them reassurance that we are very professional in everything we do.  Everyone at the trust is very proud of these achievements.”

ENDS

Media contact : Jo Triggs tel: (01245) 514235 | Mobile : 0790 005 4948