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Home > News > MLCSU shortlisted for two categories at the HSJ’s Value in Healthcare Awards

MLCSU shortlisted for two categories at the HSJ’s Value in Healthcare Awards

NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit (MLCSU) has been shortlisted in two categories for this year’s prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) Value in Healthcare awards.

MLCSU is shortlisted in the “improving the value of NHS support services” category for implementing a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), called Adam, to place Continuing Healthcare (CHC) patients in the best possible care homes.

Procurement of CHC has traditionally been made by spot purchasing with limited choice and qualitative measurement, little contractual management and no control over price. A new approach was needed to tackle these problems, along with a culture where patients were able to choose their own care home regardless of cost or suitability.

Almost 200 care homes were enrolled in the scheme across Staffordshire, and MLCSU recruited a brokerage team, including a senior clinician, to sit within the CSU’s Continuing Healthcare team and co-ordinate all the details. This has freed up hospital staff, CHC nurses and community teams to spend more time delivering frontline care.

A contract is created for each patient, which allows the team to better manage the performance of providers. The system also enables them to report on regular, meaningful quality metrics, such as falls and pressure sores.

Following the introduction of Adam in Staffordshire, there have been 800 placements, with a quality rating of 90% and savings of almost £800,000.

Debbie Thwaites, Director of Business Improvement, said: “We’re delighted with what Adam has achieved so far and are already exploring other areas where we can use the system.

“This is the first time it’s been used in the field of Continuing Healthcare, and the results speak for themselves.”

MLCSU’s communications and engagement team is also celebrating after helping two clients secure shortlisted places in the communications category.

The communications and engagement team supported George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust’s #jointeameliot campaign, which helped to recruit seven nurses, substantially reduce the amount of money spent on agency staff and increase the Trust’s Twitter following.

The campaign included a theatre open day, training for existing staff and producing videos and social media content.

Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG is also recognised for its open and collaborative culture. MLCSU’s communications staff worked closely with senior leaders in the CCG to deliver quality internal communications, including a staff awards ceremony, staff values and regular briefings and newsletters for staff and GP members. In the CCG’s annual staff survey 92% of staff said they felt proud to work for the CCG

Stephanie Belgeonne, Senior Partner of Communications and Engagement for MLCSU, said: “The fact that our service has been shortlisted twice for our work with clients just goes to show the terrific job our staff have done.

“We worked closely with George Eliot Hospital and Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG to understand their needs and how we could use our expertise to help them. We are really excited that our clients’ successes have been shortlisted for these prestigious awards.”

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on 24 May 2017.

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