A team of experts specialising in the treatment of Hepatitis C in the Blackpool area has won a top award.
The Viral Hepatitis Team won the Partnership category at the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundations Trust’s Annual Celebrating Success Awards. The award was made due to the proactive nature of the team, building partnerships with outside agencies in order to promote an effective, quality based nurse led service.
The service has been developed primarily as a Nurse Practitioner led service. The team consists of Dr C Shorrock, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Mike Rolland, Nurse Practitioner.
Mike suggests there are probably many more people in Blackpool and surrounding areas who should be tested for a Blood Borne Virus, hopefully the development of the Community Blood Borne Virus team and other testing agencies will allow increased partnerships and stronger links between testing services, GP’s, secondary care and ancillary support services.
Mike said: “We were particularly pleased to win the Partnership Award this year. With difficult to access groups, including patients with Hepatitis C, multi agency partnerships across trusts, teams and institutions are paramount in providing comprehensive supportive services that act in the true best interests of the patient. Between us our roles are diverse and many specialities may be involved. We do have however, one common goal. That is to provide our patients with care and facilitation in order to ensure that their journey through treatment is safe but is also as tolerable as possible”.
The service is going from strength to strength. A more comprehensive network of knowledgeable service providers allows better communication with patients. The service now provides education sessions for GP surgeries and any agency involved in Blood Borne Virus testing in order that information be consistent and accurate. Regular clinics are held in both Primary and Secondary care, the local prison, Addiction support services and covers an area taking in the whole of the Fylde Coast.
The award carried a prize of £500 which will be used to further develop the service and further improve health care for patients with Hepatitis C in the area.
For further information please contact
Mike Rolland on 01253 303459
|