Published on: 20 September 2024
Two ward nursing teams have become the first in their hospitals to achieve accreditation status.
Ward 8 at South Tyneside District Hospital was the first in South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust to gain its Ward Accreditation (WA) status.
It is a care of the older persons’ ward and is led by ward manager Ann Callaghan.
It has been followed by B26 at Sunderland Royal Hospital, which is the first on site to gain the award. It is managed by Bethan Harris and looks after gastroenterology-related illness.
Following a recent launch of the Ward and Department Accreditation system, more than 40 other areas within the Trust have joined the process. They are expected to achieve accreditation in the coming weeks and months.
The Accreditation process has been developed to bring together key measures and standards of management and nursing care on wards and departments. It is also an aspect of the Trust’s vision of ‘Excellence in all that we do.’
The programme also takes in Sunderland Eye Infirmary and the Integrated Care and Rehabilitation (ICAR) in Houghton-le-Spring.
WA was set up by the NHS to measure, evaluate and continuously improve the delivery of care on wards and in units.
The Trust’s effort is also part of its vision of ‘Excellence in all that we do.’
All wards and units across the Trust have a high standard of care, cleanliness and management. However, the WA scheme was set up by the NHS to measure, evaluate and continuously improve across the organisation.
To gain accreditation, teams must report 100% compliance against all standards for three months in a row. Audits are then carried out every three months to ensure the standards are maintained.
The Trust’s Chief Executive Ken Bremner MBE and other Trust leaders presented Ann, Bethan and their teams their framed certificates at celebration events.
He said:
"Achieving Ward Accreditation is a long process and I know both of these ward managers are proud of reaching this moment and will share this recognition with their team.
"These wards are a beacon of excellence and now other areas are working to follow in their footsteps."
Rohit Sinha, consultant and clinical director, with Trust Chief Executive Ken Bremner, Ward Manager Bethan Harris and Agata Wiorowska, Directorate Manager. Seated are Michael Irving, Matron, Adelle Emmerson, Deputy Ward Manager, Anna Craven, Staff Nurse, Ashley Graham, Nursing Apprentice, Jessica Fletcher and Gillian Green, Healthcare Assistants.
Bethan said:
"We’re a really close team and that follows through to the patients, it’s really important to them that they are well looked after.
"I’m a real advocate for them upskilling and learning, it helps their job satisfaction, and they’re really receptive, because it all helps our patients.
"This accreditation is an acknowledgement of their hard work and I know that will continue."
Trust Chief Excutive Ken Bremner presents Ward Manager Ann Callaghan with Ward 8's award with Staff Nurse Felly Mukuruva, Staff Nurse, Healthcare Assistant, Carole Leithead, House Keeper Anne McCarthy, Healthcare Assistants Jamie Ridley and Cara Keighley, Chris Doughty, Staff Nurse, Heathcare Assistants Demi Maguire, Jackie Phinn and Dawn Snaith.
Ann said:
"Delivering excellence in patient care is what our team strive for on a daily basis.
"I am delighted that the hard work of every member of the team has been recognised."
The Accreditation process, which is bespoke to the Trust, considers 120 standards within the nine areas of:
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Staff Management
- Clinical Environment
- Discharge Management
- Patient Assessment and Care
- Patient Safety
- Patient Centred Care
- Medicines Management
- Risk Management.
