NURSING STANDARD
NURSE AWARDS 2014
INNOVATIONS IN YOUR SPECIALTY AWARD Sponsored by LV=
NURSING STANDARD
Claire alerted public to oesophageal threat N U RSedgwick SE AWARDS
Raising public awareness
WE WANTED SOMETHING THAT WOULD ATTRACT ATTENTION
JIM VARNEY
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer nurse specialist Claire Sedgwick from Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was concerned to find poor awareness of the symptoms of upper gastrointestinal and oesophageal cancers. Oesophageal adenocarcinoma is the fastest-increasing cancer in Western societies, and the highest incidence of it in the world occurs in north east England. Previous research in the region showed a delay between patients first developing upper digestive tract symptoms and presenting to their GP. ‘Sixty per cent of patients presenting with symptoms are already incurable, and street surveys
After a major fundraising and publicity campaign, including local celebrities, fun events and lots of media coverage, Claire re-examined the level of disease knowledge and whether it had increased. ‘We found a 70 per cent increase in awareness of the disease among the public who
The oesophagoose campaign was embodied by a goose – modelled above by Claire Sedgwick
in Newcastle revealed 50 per cent of people did not know what their oesophagus was,’ said Claire. ‘So we raised awareness through the Oesophagoose campaign – and its embodiment was … a goose. We wanted something that would attract attention.’
had seen the campaign; there was a small increase in GP presentations for dyspepsia and an increase in endoscopy referrals,’ Claire was able to tell the judges. ‘If this award is for innovation, then the Oesophagoose campaign has certainly fulfilled that brief,’ said the specialist judge.
TIM GEORGE
Team created learning disability kite mark
Quality and equality The Purple Star quality kite mark was developed by Hertfordshire County Council’s Health Liaison Nursing Team for services committed to providing equal care for people with a learning disability. In Purple Star services, at least 50 per cent of the staff have undertaken competency-based training in non-discriminatory health care; there is a named learning disability link nurse and a learning disability champion;
A PROJECT THAT COULD BE USED WITH OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS
easy-to-read information and signage; and staff agree to quality monitoring. The scheme extends to pharmacists, dentists and opticians. Strategic lead nurse Alison Fitzgerald leads 50 community learning disability staff in social services and has been instrumental in training learning disability nurses to act as Purple Star facilitators. She developed the business case, promoted it to senior staff, supported senior community learning disability nurses and social care managers, and involved people with learning disabilities. ‘A great project that could be used with other vulnerable groups,’ said the judges.
Alison Fitzgerald, front left, with team members Tracy Logan (centre) and (clockwise from left) Astrid Ubas, Frank Garvey, Gavin Howcroft, Natasha Collins and Maggie Clem
66 may 7 :: vol 28 noRCNi.com 36 :: 2014 STANDARD Downloaded from by ${individualUser.displayName} on Jul 19, 2016. For personal use only. No NURSING other uses without permission. Copyright © 2016 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
NURSE AWARDS 2014
INNOVATIONS IN YOUR SPECIALTY AWARD Sponsored by LV=
NURSING STANDARD
Claire alerted public to oesophageal threat N U RSedgwick SE AWARDS
Raising public awareness
WE WANTED SOMETHING THAT WOULD ATTRACT ATTENTION
JIM VARNEY
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer nurse specialist Claire Sedgwick from Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was concerned to find poor awareness of the symptoms of upper gastrointestinal and oesophageal cancers. Oesophageal adenocarcinoma is the fastest-increasing cancer in Western societies, and the highest incidence of it in the world occurs in north east England. Previous research in the region showed a delay between patients first developing upper digestive tract symptoms and presenting to their GP. ‘Sixty per cent of patients presenting with symptoms are already incurable, and street surveys
After a major fundraising and publicity campaign, including local celebrities, fun events and lots of media coverage, Claire re-examined the level of disease knowledge and whether it had increased. ‘We found a 70 per cent increase in awareness of the disease among the public who
The oesophagoose campaign was embodied by a goose – modelled above by Claire Sedgwick
in Newcastle revealed 50 per cent of people did not know what their oesophagus was,’ said Claire. ‘So we raised awareness through the Oesophagoose campaign – and its embodiment was … a goose. We wanted something that would attract attention.’
had seen the campaign; there was a small increase in GP presentations for dyspepsia and an increase in endoscopy referrals,’ Claire was able to tell the judges. ‘If this award is for innovation, then the Oesophagoose campaign has certainly fulfilled that brief,’ said the specialist judge.
TIM GEORGE
Team created learning disability kite mark
Quality and equality The Purple Star quality kite mark was developed by Hertfordshire County Council’s Health Liaison Nursing Team for services committed to providing equal care for people with a learning disability. In Purple Star services, at least 50 per cent of the staff have undertaken competency-based training in non-discriminatory health care; there is a named learning disability link nurse and a learning disability champion;
A PROJECT THAT COULD BE USED WITH OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS
easy-to-read information and signage; and staff agree to quality monitoring. The scheme extends to pharmacists, dentists and opticians. Strategic lead nurse Alison Fitzgerald leads 50 community learning disability staff in social services and has been instrumental in training learning disability nurses to act as Purple Star facilitators. She developed the business case, promoted it to senior staff, supported senior community learning disability nurses and social care managers, and involved people with learning disabilities. ‘A great project that could be used with other vulnerable groups,’ said the judges.
Alison Fitzgerald, front left, with team members Tracy Logan (centre) and (clockwise from left) Astrid Ubas, Frank Garvey, Gavin Howcroft, Natasha Collins and Maggie Clem
66 may 7 :: vol 28 noRCNi.com 36 :: 2014 STANDARD Downloaded from by ${individualUser.displayName} on Jul 19, 2016. For personal use only. No NURSING other uses without permission. Copyright © 2016 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
