Breast screening team improves service for people with learning disabilities
A collaboration between InHealth, Surrey County Council Adult Social Care, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Learning Disability Liaison Service and Surrey Choices has been presented with the BIR/IEL Make it Better Award. The award was presented at the UKIO conference in June for its work on improving access to breast screening service for people with learning disabilities.
The project improved the awareness and attendance at breast screening appointments of women with learning disabilities by addressing barriers to attendance. Time was spent listening to users of the service and practical adaptations were made such as longer appointment times, clearer information, time spent with carers and stronger links with GPs and support organisations.
The team chose to donate its £1,000 prize money to Surrey Choices, a centre for people with learning disabilities.
Senior account manager for award sponsor IEL Phil Neale said: “The service improvement that this collaboration has achieved is particularly rewarding as it serves a section of the community that may have found access challenging. I firmly believe that other healthcare groups can benefit from this excellent work.”
Dr Elizabeth Loney and her team from County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust were highly commended for their project to replace two privately-owned and run MRI scanners saving the trust around £3 million.
Picture: InHealth lead clinical nurse specialist Jane Jeffries and equity and inclusion consultant Jackie Macklin, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust lead nurse Katie Hougham, InHealth head of screening and prevention Chrissy Zelenyanszki and IEL senior account manager Phil Neale.
Published on page 10 of the August 2019 issue of RAD Magazine.