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The Digestive Diseases Unit (DDU) team at Kettering General Hospital has won a national award for the way it has cared for vulnerable patients during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The team have won a Cavell Star Award from the prestigious Cavell Nurses’ Trust which recognises outstanding care for patients and their families.

 

The nomination was for the way they have worked to ensure patients with gastroenterology disorders – such as Inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal cancer, and chronic liver disease - have been looked after by the appropriate doctors and nurses with gastrointestinal expertise and discharged home promptly and safely during the pandemic.

 

DDU Ward Sister Angie Robinson said: “In March 2020 we had to move from our base on Deene C ward at the hospital to the former Ashton Ward at the Treatment Centre as this was a green area where patients could be protected from Covid-19 infection as much as possible.

 

“During the pandemic we have worked with A&E and our medical wards to ensure that patients who need our care are seen by the right specialist doctors and nurses as soon as possible.

 

“This means they get the right treatment without delay and, because we have our own Gastric Treatment Clinic, we have also often been able to discharge people home quickly with an appropriate clinic follow-up a couple of days later to ensure they are OK.”

 

The efficient way the team worked meant they could discharge an average of 25 patients per week in the 20 bed ward during the pandemic – ensuring that beds remained free for acutely ill patients who needed urgent hospital care.

 

The team has a daily ward round led by the Consultant, the ward doctors, and nurses each day so that patients could be promptly treated and closely monitored by the DDU team.

 

Surgical Services Matron, Arnold Aguilar, nominated the team for the Cavell Award.

 

He said: “During the pandemic patients were nervous of hospital visits if their condition meant they were shielding and were immunocompromised.

 

“By working so well as a team DDU enabled them to receive outstanding care in a quick and timely way and enabled them to be able to go home as soon as possible.

 

“The Cavell Awards recognises passionate individuals and teams who shine bright and deliver exception high quality care for patients and who support families.

 

“The Digestive Diseases Unit team has done this and that’s why I nominated them for an award. I am delighted that – after Cavell carried out its usual rigorous screening process – they agreed.”

 

Gastroenterology Registrar Dr Solange Serna said: “Doctors work very closely with the nurses on the unit and we have nurse-led discharge here as long as patients meet discharge criteria.

 

“The way we have worked has meant that our patients have received the very best possible timely care during a very difficult and worrying time for them.”

 

Kettering General Hospital’s Director of Nursing and Quality, Leanne Hackshall, said: “I am delighted the Digestive Diseases Unit team has won this award and congratulate them all for the way in which they have supported the Trust’s coronavirus response.

 

“This is a great example of how we have adapted to the difficult circumstances brought by the pandemic and delivered the best possible care for patients in a way that has enabled them to go home to their families as soon as possible.”