A healthcare project which has seen on-the-day operation cancellations cut by 60% at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) has been recognised.
RWT has won the first ever ‘Carter Innovation Award’, awarded by Lord Carter to the Trust or organisation which best represents the use of innovation to improve healthcare estates and infrastructure.
The award was presented to RWT chief executive David Loughton by Lord Carter at the Hospitals Innovation Conference in London last week.
Judges picked a winner from more than 30 entrants across the UK and looked at RWT’s innovative work using an electronic tracking system known as Teletracking.
The real-time technology, called TeleTracking Technologies, detects electronic badges and bracelets attached to patients, staff and equipment. It provides staff with visibility to all beds, patients, assets and equipment across their trust.
David Loughton, chief executive at RWT, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received this award. To have been recognised by Lord Carter and to have been chosen as the recipients of this award in its inaugural year is fantastic.
“We have a culture that embraces innovation in the work place and our work with the Teletracking system has proved groundbreaking, with excellent results across the board. Its success is testament to the commitment and excellence of our staff across the hospital.
“The technology enables staff to see real-time data on beds available within the hospital, enabling patients to be allocated to the most appropriate ward first time, ensuring they receive care from a medical and nursing team who are experts in their particular condition.
“If the NHS is to meet rising demand it must continue to innovate and develop new technologies that enhance and improve patient care. It is great news for our patients that RWT staff are leading the way with this exciting technology.”
The Lord Carter report, published in February 2016, highlighted key areas where NHS Trusts could make efficiency and productivity gains and how they could use technology and innovation to best effect in this process.
