The Lean Healthcare Academy has announced the winners of its inaugural annual awards for excellence.

They were unveiled and presented at the 1st annual best practice sharing, exhibition and dinner in Leeds. (Mon, Nov 17)

The awards recognise work undertaken by the Ilkley-based academy’s 21-strong network of healthcare sector members in adopting and implementing Lean working practices as a foundation stone for sustainable service transformation.

The winners were:

NVQ Project of the Year, for initiatives implemented following successful completion of the Business Improvement Techniques NVQ - Airedale NHS Trust Diabetic Foot Clinic.
The project delivered reduced waiting times within the twice-weekly foot clinic and improved privacy and dignity for patients, as well as identifying £30,000 of unclaimed payments and reducing the number of hospital attendances per patient for each episode of care from three to two visits.

Productive Ward Project of the Year, recognising organisations that have made the most progress towards embedding the principles of Lean via the Productive Ward initiative - Ealing Primary Care Trust, Clayponds Rehabilitation Hospital.
Two staff members from each ward led on the implementation of Lean - part of the process to introduce, implement and sustain Productive Ward. Systems are now in place that have produced key benefits for both patients and staff.

Facilitators Choice, chosen by Lean Healthcare Academy facilitators and recognising special achievements - Doncaster Primary Care Trust.
The Trust’s Service Improvement Redesign Team adopted a pioneering, multi-disciplinary approach, redesigning existing and implementing new services, eliminating waste and creating an effective, robust and timely service improvement process for patients and the health economy of Doncaster.

Lean Champion of the Year, for the person who has made the greatest progress as a proponent of Lean and the most significant individual impact - Joanne Davy, Leeds Primary Care Trust.
Joanne was formerly service improvement manager at Airedale NHS Trust, where, as a member of the Lean Operational Group, she was involved in many projects. Her major achievement was the Pre-op Assessment Project, which has improved both the pre-assessment pathway for patients and the environment in pre-op.
At Airedale, Joanne was among the first cohort of Lean Business Improvement Techniques NVQ level 2 champions and has now achieved her NVQ level 3 qualification. She recently became service improvement facilitator for children’s services at Leeds PCT, the latest member of the Lean Healthcare Academy. Joanne’s task will embrace the newly begun Lean journey.

Independent Project of the Year, celebrating achievements made in the NHS without the support of the Lean Healthcare Academy - NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Hospital Sterilisation and Disinfectant Unit.
The Sterile Services Pathway Project identified and eliminated problems and wasteful practices, as well as reducing risks of cross-infection. It has resulted in a 72% reduction in all complaints, 83% reduction in non-conforming trays and a 30% reduction in turnaround time for trays across all sites.
Such benefits, since improved upon, have significantly benefited service users, with fewer delays and less disruption to surgical procedures due to non-conforming trays.

Organisation of the Year, for those who have made the most significant strategic progress - Airedale NHS Trust.
The Trust became the Lean Healthcare Academy’s founding partner in 2006 and has been utilising Lean techniques for the past two years. Airedale has trained 430 staff, representing 25% of the workforce, and undertaken 52 projects, of which 15 have been successfully completed.
The trust has raised the profile of Lean and its benefits at several high profile conferences throughout the year, and trained 27 Lean Business Improvement Techniques champions at NVQ levels 2 and 3.
It has appointed a Head of Lean Improvement and has adopted a strategic approach to using Lean to underpin delivery of service improvement, significantly enhancing the overall patient journey in terms of ensuring quality care and customer satisfaction
Airedale is also reaping financial benefits as it streamlines processes, as well as having robust systems in place that allow the trust to be paid for the flagship Lean work it undertakes.
The first Lean Healthcare Training Academy was opened at Airedale General Hospital, Steeton.

Project of the Year, marking the best overall project completed with the support of the Lean Healthcare Academy - Hull & East Yorkshire NHS Trust, Trauma Orthopaedic Project.
Trauma services is one of the toughest pathway challenges. The Trust identified major areas open to improvement and now has a template in place as it continues to implement action plans leading to service improvements.
Benefits achieved to date include the establishment of robust information at every stage of the existing pathway, and improved communication and understanding both within the Lean team and trust-wide. The project has also been extended to include the Orthopaedic Elective Service.

Outstanding Individual, focusing on achievements at every stage of the Lean journey and on the contribution to their organisation’s adoption of Lean - Linda Leach, Stockport Primary Care Trust.
Linda was closely involved in setting up the Trust’s Lean Steering Group and has shaped the overall Lean strategy, leading on the facilitation of three major projects. She is the key contact for communicating Lean throughout the organisation and is ensuring effective roll out of training at all levels.
Linda continues to promote Lean at every opportunity as a powerful problem-solving tool in helping to redesign patient services and develop new guidelines and policies as part of the ultimate goal of making a real difference to Stockport provider services.
Described as an inspirational Lean leader, Linda presented at a Lean Masterclass Conference in Manchester.

Best Impact on Patient Experience, for achievements in providing an excellent and ever-improving service for the service user - Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oncology & Haematology Blood Test Review.
Mindful of the fact that there was no limit to the number and types of blood tests a doctor can request, the trust focused on reducing the most common tests performed on oncology and haematology patients by 10%.
The outcome has been a fivefold reduction in the number of excess blood tests performed. On average, each inpatient now has five less blood tests during their stay, resulting in reduced needle usage, therefore reduced costs, and an enhanced patient experience.

Special Award for the Advancement of Lean in the Healthcare Sector – Adam Cairns, chief executive, Airedale NHS Trust.
Mr Cairns was singled out for his “leap of faith” in signing up the Trust as the first member of the Lean Healthcare Academy, for his enthusiasm and commitment to spreading the Lean message, supported by the necessary investment.

People’s Choice Award, chosen by attendees for the best exhibition – jointly won by Leeds Teaching Hospital and University Hospital North Staffordshire.

The awards ceremony was hosted by Judith Clarkson, divisional director of e-academies at the Virtual College, of which the Lean Health Care Academy is a member, with trophies presented by Virtual College chairman Dr Bob Gomersal.

Guest speaker was Lean guru Sid Joynson, whose television series  "Sid's Heroes" was screened on the BBC. The awards were sponsored by the NHS Institute, Yorkshire Forward, recruitment group EMS Sigma and HealthSystems Consulting.

Following the success of the launch event, Virtual College chief executive Rod Knox announced that it was destined to become an annual occasion recognising outstanding contributions to Lean nationwide.

LHA Awards 2008 Feedback Form
http://www.leanhealthcareacademy.co.uk/lha_event_feedback_form.htm