Horton hip fracture service shortlisted for national award
08/03/2018
This article is more than six years old.
A pioneering team of staff who have transformed the treatment of hip fracture patients at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury have made it to the final judging stages of The British Medical Journal (BMJ) Awards 2018.
Consultant Trauma Surgeon Mr Sam Anand, Consultant Orthogeriatrician Dr Angela Kannan, Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Jillian Hewitt-Gray and a multidisciplinary team which includes nurses, physiotherapists and operating theatre staff are shortlisted in the Patient Safety category.
The Banbury team have been shortlisted for The BMJ Awards after remarkable improvements in the quality of care they provide for patients who suffer a fractured neck of femur (broken hip) when the top part of the femur (leg bone) is broken.
Hip fractures affect 65,000 patients a year nationally and can lead to older people losing confidence and independence.
In 2011 9.5 percent of patients who had a hip fracture operation at the Horton General died within 30 days of surgery.
A Consultant Orthogeriatrician, Dr Angela Kannan, was appointed, frail elderly patients prioritised on operating theatre lists, operating hours increased to make better use of theatre time, and physiotherapy provided at weekends. This complete culture change has transformed the quality of care.
Now only 2.9 percent of patients who have a hip fracture operation at the Horton General die within 30 days of surgery, compared with a national average of 6.7 percent.
The Horton General has been ranked in the top five performing hospitals for the treatment of patients with hip fractures for the last five years running – achieving the number one ranking when the latest National Hip Fracture Audit was published in 2017.
The average length of time which patients spend in the Horton General following hip fracture surgery has been reduced from 22 days in 2011 to 16 days now, compared with a national average length of stay of 22 days. At a cost of £255 per day per patient this saves the NHS £170,340 a year and means that patients are able to go home sooner.
Dr Angela Kannan says: "We are delighted to have been shortlisted as a team for The BMJ Awards. We have been inspired by the British cycling team and the Japanese concept of Kaizen. Using the theory of marginal gains - the huge difference which a large number of small changes can make to our patients - we are committed to continuously improving our service.
"Many of our patients are older people whose lives can be dramatically impacted by a hip fracture which can rob them of their confidence. By operating as soon as possible and then working as a team to support their rehabilitation, we can get them back on their feet and help them maintain their independence."
The full shortlist for The BMJ Awards 2018 is available at http://thebmjawards.bmj.com/shortlist-2018
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 10 May 2018.
Pictured: Horton General Hospital hip fracture team (l to r): Dr Jillian Hewitt-Gray (Consultant Anaesthetist), Louise Garrett (Ward Manager), Dr Angela Kannan (Consultant Orthogeriatrician), Charlotte Woodward (Emergency Department Sister), Mr Sam Anand (Consultant Trauma Surgeon), Luke Souter (Physiotherapy Assistant) and Hannah Perkins (Trauma Specialist Physiotherapist)