Anaesthesia research achieves 1,000 volunteer patients

A research team in our theatres has achieved a significant milestone by enrolling over 1,000 patients in the Perioperative Quality Improvement Programme (PQIP).

With approximately 10 million operations taking place within the NHS each year, ensuring the utmost safety for patients throughout the entire surgical process is essential.

PQIP is a national study which takes a deep dive look at the care patients receive when admitted to hospital for major surgery. Analysis of the data collected is used to refine and improve care with the aim of reducing complications.

Currently running in over 150 hospitals across the country, PQIP has successfully enrolled 46,000 patients to date. Patients play an important role in the study by giving feedback on their satisfaction with care and on their long-term quality of life.

The 2023 PQIP report has just been published. Research themes for next year will include a renewed focus on reducing complications and length of stay after surgery. Simplifying the ‘enhanced recovery’ pathway is another key aim. This can be done by improving pain relief, treating anaemia promptly and helping patients to drink eat and move around as soon as possible within the first 24 hours after surgery.  The third big theme for the coming year is teamwork, Dr Ramani Moonsinghe.

PQIP Chief Investigator said: “Improvements in care cannot be delivered by lone heroes. We advocate using the full capacity of the multidisciplinary team (MDT).”

We first joined the study in 2017.

“Our team of nurses, data managers and anaesthetists are up and running again following the Covid-19 pandemic and we have been a big contributor to the study,” said Caroline Reavley, Consultant Anaesthetist and Research Lead for Anaesthesia.

“Our data is used to help improve care in our own hospital and throughout the UK. This research helps us to keep on refining our care pathways based on big data, driving down complication rates.”

“I wish to say a heartfelt thank you to the 1,000 plus patients who have trusted us with their data and taken the time to participate in the study especially at a stressful and worrying time when they are coming in for major surgery,” added Deirdre Fottrell-Gould, Clinical Research Nurse.

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