Published on: 30 November 2020
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is celebrating after scooping not just one, but six prestigious awards for its innovative work around children’s asthma.
The work of the Trust’s Paediatric Respiratory Team was highly commended in the Best Health Tech Solution for Patient Safety’ at the recent national Health Service Journal (HSJ) Patient Safety Awards for its pioneering Paediatric Emergency Department Asthma Assessment Tool (PEDAAT).
It’s a sad fact that the UK has the highest number of childhood asthma related deaths in Europe – and according to The National Review of Asthma Deaths (NRAD) 46 per cent of those are preventable.
The asthma assessment tool, or PEDAAT, was developed by the Trust’s Paediatric Respiratory Team to help reduce the number of children who are at high risk from asthma and are struggling to manage their condition. The tool ensures that these patients receive a follow up appointment at a dedicated asthma clinic within two weeks.
At South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, the PEDAAT tool has captured 100 per cent of high-risk children leading to less attendance at the children’s emergency department (62%) and a reduced number of children who need to stay in hospital (71%).
It has also scooped several other awards including the regional YOGI Memorial Prize, awarded to trainees and students for their work around quality improvement. It was also ‘highly commended’ and awarded ‘runner up’ in the Innovation award category of the National Medilink UK Health Care Business Awards Finals 2020.
When commenting on the nomination, HSJ judges said “an incredibly powerful message sits behind the PEDAAT initiative and the passion behind the project is apparent.”
They also commented that its “patient safety benefits are clear, compelling and well-evidenced and that scaling the project nationally and into adult asthma would be massively beneficial for patient safety, improved experience, and efficiency”.
The work of Dr Katherine Eastham, a Consultant Paediatrician at the Trust was also recognised at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards.
Dr Eastham has a specialist interest in paediatric respiratory conditions and has been working alongside Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Academic Health Science Network on an innovative health initiative, called BeatAsthma+. This was created combining the PEDAAT tool with BReATHE (Beating Regional Asthma through Health Education) to provide joined up Asthma care for children which includes identifying and managing the condition earlier and providing support and education to families affected. The resource is available at www.beatasthma.co.uk.
Sadly, every year approximately 20-30 children and young people in the UK die from their asthma. BeatAsthma+ aims to improve outcomes for asthma patients and ultimately prevent further asthma deaths.
BeatAsthma+ also picked up two awards at the Dynamites ‘20 Awards – which recognise talent within the North East digital/IT sector. BeatAsthma+ received a ‘Special Commendation’ in the ‘Tech for Good’ category as well as claiming second place, out of 84 projects, in the ‘People’s Choice Award’, voted for by the public.
The project was also ‘Highly Commended’ at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards in the ‘Best Emerging Solution for Patient Safety’ category.
The judges, said: “This is a great example of system working for patient safety, and it is fantastic to see a successful innovation continuing to be developed over time. A truly commendable piece of work with potential for national spread.”
Dr Shaz Wahid, Medical Director at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are extremely proud of the work that has been undertaken on both of these projects and I would like to say congratulations to everyone involved – they thoroughly deserve this recognition.
“It is fantastic to know that our staff are at the forefront of innovation which is improving safety and, hence, outcomes for our patients and also providing examples of good practice for services throughout the country to follow.
“Patient safety is at the heart of all that we do and these awards are a testament to the dedication of our teams to provide even better care to our patients.”
