Small steps lead to safer patient care

The Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) Adult Neurosurgery, Anaesthetic and Infection Teams, led by Dr George Hadjipavlou, Ms Jane Halliday, Ms Lisa Butcher and Dr Chris Kearns, have won a national award for their work on improving surgical site infection rates in Neurosurgery.

They were the delighted recipients of a OneTogether UK Small Steps Award on 7 November 2019.

The teams worked closely together to develop an infection policy, audit process and education programme to improve rates of surgical site infections in Adult Neurosurgery, which, while in line with national rates, they sought to improve.

The programme started in June 2019, since when there has been a significant reduction in return to theatre for surgical site infection rates - from an average of 3.1 percent to 1.4 percent in the first three months.

Jane Halliday said: "We are honoured and delighted to have received the award in recognition of the work we have done and improvements we have already seen."

For further information please contact: jane.halliday@ouh.nhs.uk

Pictured: Jane Halliday receives the group award at a ceremony on 7 November.