NNUH Specialist Nurse takes on national advisory role

A specialist nurse from NNUH has been appointed as a national advisory role on the GIRFT project for Paediatric Rheumatology which looks at reducing inequality and improving access to services.

Get It Right First Time (GIRFT) is an NHS England programme designed to improve the quality of care within the NHS by reducing unwarranted variation. The programme undertakes clinically led reviews of specialties, combining data analysis with the input and professional knowledge of senior clinicians to examine how things are currently being done and how they could be improved.

Catherine “Kit” Tranter joins a team alongside two clinical leads Dr Flora McErlane (Great North Children’s Hospital, Newcastle) and Dr Gavin Cleary (Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool), physiotherapist Ginny Ward (Bristol Children’s Hospital) and occupational therapist Claire Pidgeon, (Birmingham Children’s Hospital) who will lead an in-depth review into inflammatory and non-inflammatory paediatric rheumatology. It is the first time that paediatric rheumatology has ever been through the GIRFT process.  The review aims to develop national pathways, share best practice, and extend support to centres facing challenges, with a particular focus on the variation in transition and transfer pathways for inflammatory conditions.

The role will initially involve mapping networks of paediatric rheumatology centres around the country to establish inequalities of care.  Catherine will be drawing on her network of other CNS’ in paediatric rheumatology around the country and looking at areas of best practice.

Catherine Tranter, NNUH Lead Paediatric Rheumatology Nurse Specialist, said: “We’re looking to find evidence from the ground up. That’s the beauty of GIRFT, it’s driven by clinicians who have credibility because they’re the ones with an in-depth knowledge of the sub-speciality, delivering the care.”

The role will also involve gathering data to see if there are pockets of the country that see more patients with one condition than another. They will also be looking at the workforce within paediatric rheumatology across England, which will support workforce planning and succession planning.

Catherine added: “I’m really pleased to have the opportunity to put Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital on the map and be a voice for more rural hubs, which gives us a different perspective to urban hubs. I’ve been in my role over 20 years so it will also be an exciting opportunity to share my knowledge, experience, and expertise to help improve care for our young patients.”

Kat Kitchener, Children and Young People’s Matron at NNUH, said: “Kit has always been a hugely proactive member of the Paediatric Specialist Nurse Team within the NNUH and more widely in paediatric rheumatology. We are so excited for Kit to be involved in this project and for her to have the opportunity to shape Paediatric Rheumatology care of the future. We’re proud and pleased that her dedication has been recognised nationally.”

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