NNUH OT shortlisted for the 2023 HSJ Patient Safety Awards

An Occupational Therapist from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH) is celebrating after being shortlisted in the HSJ’s Patient Safety Awards.

The awards recognise safety, culture and positive experience in patient care and acknowledge the hard-working teams and individuals across the UK who are continually striving to deliver improved patient care.

Holly Bray, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, has been shortlisted for her role in creating provision of Occupational Therapy (OT) in Critical Care, in the ‘Harnessing a Human Factors Approach to Improve Patient Safety’ category.

When visiting a patient in Critical Care, Holly could see there was a missed opportunity to maintain patients’ functional independence and the benefits that OT input could bring to this patient group. Holly helped to develop a business case and as a result a new core OT role was created for the unit. She has created a “Focus on Function” initiative where she is working to support a culture change, educate staff, and help fight deconditioning right from the start of a patient’s journey. Deconditioning can happen when patients are inactive and includes the loss of physical, psychological, and functional capacity. This in turn can lead to delayed discharges and further complications.

Holly’s nomination was one of a record-breaking 515 entries received for the HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2023, with 209 organisations, projects and individuals making it to the final shortlist.

Holly said: “I was really surprised but thrilled to hear that I’ve been shortlisted. I have worked really hard to get this project up and running, and to receive this nomination is a lovely boost. It has been a privilege to be the first Occupational Therapist to work within Critical Care and patients, families and colleagues alike have all given positive feedback since the service was introduced. I look forward to the continued development of this service and would like to thank everybody for their support so far.”

Prof Nancy Fontaine, Chief Nurse, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Holly’s enthusiasm, dedication, and commitment to patient care has been recognised on this prestigious shortlist. She is an incredibly passionate and hardworking member of NNUH. We wish her the best of luck for the awards.”

Winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at Manchester Central, on 18 September 2023.

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