Anaesthesia |
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News
RUH staff recognised for patient safety (February 2021)
Staff in departments across the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust have been recognised for maintaining the highest level of patient care in airway management.
The hospital came joint first in the Airway Team of the Year award at the Guys Airway Management Course 2021 last week, an international conference attended by over 12,000 delegates from 100 countries.
Airway management includes all those procedures done to ensure oxygen can be delivered to the patients’ lungs when they are unconscious, whether during routine surgery or in an emergency. A variety of airway devices and techniques may be used to achieve this and safe airway management is a cornerstone of anaesthesia, emergency medicine and critical care medicine.
The nomination for the award was made by Dr Fiona Kelly and Prof Tim Cook and is awarded to a wide range of Departments in recognition of the commitment and hard work of staff in Anaesthesia, Intensive Care, Operating Theatres, Emergency Department, Sterile Services, Infection Prevention and Control, Procurement and Management.
Prof Cook said: “This is something we should all be extremely proud of. Airway management is at the heart of safety for elective anaesthesia and caring for the critically ill.
"For 20 years we have fostered a culture of teamwork, inclusivity and unity, promoting the safest patient-centred airway management and in doing so aimed to drive up and maintain the highest standards.”
The RUH is widely recognised for its research and innovation in airway management. In 2017 it was highlighted as the third most research active department in the world in this area and it is the first hospital in the UK, and only the third in the world, to move entirely to videolaryngoscopy to improve the safety of patient care during airway management.
Dr Kelly said “It has been a true team effort over many years and we’re delighted that this hard work is now being recognised on a global platform.
“We will make sure we maintain this culture - patient safety can only be maintained by continuing to learn, educate and work as a team.”
“To receive such a prestigious award is a massive achievement and is a reflection of everything that staff at the RUH have done to promote safe and high quality airway management at the hospital."
Previous years
Department highlighted by Chief Executive in Bath Life Magazine, December 2018
SASWR December 2018
Thank you to Rob Axe, Clare Hommers and Jonny Price for organising a fantastic SASWR Bath meeting - with flying visits from Professor Carol Peden from Los Angeles and Dr Philippe le Fevre from Melbourne.
Difficult Airway Society (DAS) national trainee prize
Congratulations to Specialist Registrar, Chris Gough for winning the Difficult Airway Society (DAS) national trainee prize last week at the DAS annual meeting in Edinburgh, and for coming second in the DAS presentation prize.
He presented work done in the RUH anaesthetic department, evaluating a novel synthetic 'obese neck' manikin used for training staff to perform emergency Front of Neck Airways (FONAs). This manikin was designed and developed by RUH anaesthetists in conjunction with Bristol firm, Limbs & Things.
AAGBI Anniversary medal
In January, we were delighted to watch Professor Tim Cook receive the Anniversary Medal of the AAGBI (Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).
The Anniversary Medal was instituted in 2007 as part of the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the AAGBI. It is awarded to British and Irish anaesthetists who have either held office in the Association and have provided exceptional service to the Association or to other individuals of distinction who have given significant service to Association members.
This is a huge honour and the ultimate accolade from our specialty, reflecting the quality and quantity of work which Prof Cook has carried out over many years. He continues to work tirelessly and inspire so many of us around him.
