Somerset Spinal Surgical Service and Improvement Network at Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust: An Enhanced Recovery Programme for Elective Spinal Surgery To Improve Quality of Care for Patients and Decrease Length of Stay

The aim was to improve quality of care and length of stay by redesigning a pathway for patients undergoing elective spinal surgery, using a prospective cohort study of SpinaL Enhanced Recovery Programme (SLERP). All interventions were tested using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles.

The SLERP pathway is now used by 99 per cent of spinal surgery patients, with 100 per cent (range 95-100) of patients rating their care as good or excellent and reduced length of stay by 52 per cent, from 6 to 2.9 days. For the full Somerset story, see HSJ Solutions.

The judges remarked: “We felt that this is a great example of delivering enhanced recovery following surgery and reducing length of stay with strong patient involvement, a robust methodology and a positive impact on patient outcomes and efficiency.”

Highly Commended was the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Partnership with the Department of Health and NHS Improvement. Read their full story here.

Finalists
Aintree University Hospital Foundation Trust
Essentia, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust
NHS Blood and Transplant
NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
QE Facilities Ltd
Working Together Programme
Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh Foundation Trust

Topics