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Kerry Davies named Scientist of the Year
The Trust is committed to protecting the safety and welfare of children and adults at risk of or experiencing harm or abuse, and ensuring these patients have access to inclusive healthcare. When a safeguarding concern is recognised and responded to, it can be a difficult time for patients who are in hospital.
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The Adult Safeguarding team worked collaboratively with the Patient Carer and Public Involvement (PCPI) team to understand the experience of inpatients when a safeguarding concern had been raised.
The PCPI team interviewed 17 patients, to understand the interaction between the patient and staff at the point when the safeguarding concern was raised. The interview conversations identified areas where the experience of these patients could be improved. A number of themes became apparent, for example, some patients were reluctant to access safeguarding support due to a fear of losing their independence or how they might be perceived by their peers. At least four patients interviewed had become unsafe due to the breakdown of informal support during the pandemic and they became unable to ‘look after’ themselves. This led to two becoming the target of others due to their acquired or perceived vulnerability. Patient centred communication stood out as the most important way to help those subject to a referral to remain at the centre of the safeguarding process. For example, writing ‘learning disability’ in supporting documentation was not enough to ensure the patient’s wishes were understood. During interviews it became clear that non-verbal cues or particular words were important in understanding how an individual might express themselves. Thanks to this inclusive work, a range of improvement opportunities have been identified. This includes staff understanding the nonverbal cues that patients may use as a way of expressing their desired outcome of the safeguarding process. This work will now continue as an ‘Always Event’, an approach that involves those with lived experience sharing their experience, skills and knowledge alongside staff to make service changes using quality improvement methods. This work will now also include the children’s safeguarding team and patients at Leeds Children’s Hospital.
Members of the LTHT Safeguarding team
Dr Kerrie Davies named UK Healthcare Scientist of the Year
Dr Kerrie Davies, Healthcare Associated Infections Research Group, Microbiology, was awarded the Chief Scientific Officer’s UK Healthcare Scientist of the Year, 2021, in December.
Chief Scientific Officer, Prof Dame Sue Hill, presented the award for Dr Davis’ contribution to the national Covid-19 testing programme and for contributions to infectious disease research, particularly for her work on test product regulatory validation and technical validation of test assay. Dr Davis was seconded to the Department of Health and Social Care as Scientific Lead for the Technical Validations Group, chaired by Dame Sue Hill and Prof Mark Wilcox during the pandemic. She has played a key role in the Trust’s diagnostic response to the pandemic, including the rollout of rapid testing to Emergency Departments. Julian Hartley, Chief Executive at LTHT, said: “This prestigious award is a welldeserved recognition of her expertise, talent and hard work - well done!”
