Hospital at Night highly commended

“Being highly commended is as good as winning,” was the reaction of Gerry Bolger, senior project manager for Hospital at Night, at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London following the 2008 Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards.

“Receiving the certificate of commendation for the HSJ Patient Safety category is tremendous recognition for Hospital at Night.

“This project puts patients first and ensures the highest standards of care and treatment for them. “It shows just how far Hospital at Night has progressed since 2004 and is a great seal of approval for the hard work and dedication of everyone who has supported and implemented the Hospital at Night programme and taken the time to share the learning and benefits with NHS colleagues in England.”

The award for Hospital at Night follows the recent release of the study: The Case for Hospital at Night: The Search for Evidence. Using data from the NHS Information Centre the study showed the impact and trends of the scheme, demonstrating:

• A reduction in the mortality ratio in the pre to post implementation period
• A reduction in the number of patients needing to be transferred to other sites for treatment
• A reduction in the adverse incident reports
• An increase in productivity and teamwork.

National clinical lead for Hospital at Night, Wendy Reid was equally thrilled, she said: “Hospital at Night is a proven route for supporting patient safety, improving patient care and provides safer, dedicated learning opportunities for our junior doctors.

“Hospital at Night promotes clinical team working with doctors, nurses and other allied professionals, across a full range of skills, competences and specialties to meet the immediate needs of patients overnight. It ensures the right person, with the right skills, is available at the right time to address the needs of patients and provide the best care. We are delighted to receive such recognition.”

Congratulations also go to the winners of the Patient Safety Category.