ICB team lands prize at Patient Safety Awards 2023

The highly-regarded HSJ Patient Safety Awards took place this week (Monday 18 September) with Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) picking up one of the prizes.

The annual event recognises and rewards teams from across the country who have gone above and beyond to improve patient care and achieve excellence in their field.

The ICB won an award in the ‘Improving Medicines Safety’ category for its joint work with Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit (MLCSU) on enhancing inhaler prescribing practice, titled ‘Inhaler Errors – Do They Matter?’.

The MLCSU Medicines Optimisation team’s audit of inhaler prescriptions identified that ingredient duplication within the same therapeutic drug class was often overlooked as a potential interaction or cause of side effects. Having shared their findings with individual GP practices, it prompted a review of prescribing policies.

An easy reference guide to inhaler prescribing was created to prevent errors from occurring in the future.

The team was praised for its comprehensive approach and attention to detail, with judges highlighting the key benefits to patients, as well as its applicability and the potential financial savings the project could bring.

Andrew White, chief pharmacist of NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, said: “The team have identified the unintentional duplication of inhalers which has improved the safety and outcomes for the people affected. The learnings will be shared so all practices and pharmacies can review patients similarly.

“All patients using inhalers should have an annual review, so please ensure you book that - or if you have concerns in the meantime please contact your GP practice or pharmacy to arrange one.”

A record-breaking 516 entries were received for the awards with 206 organisations, projects and individuals making it to the final shortlist.

There were two other local winners on the night: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals also picked up an award for ‘Best Use of Integrated Care and Partnership Working’ for Operation Provide – an initiative that sees NHS-employed and trained independent domestic violence advocates deployed alongside operational police officers at domestic assault incidents; and Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust won in the ‘Mental Health Safety Improvement’ category. The Trust and Advocacy Focus offered enhanced advocacy support for autistic people who are in mental health inpatient services informally – as this is something that they would not ordinarily be legally entitled to.

Photo: MLCSU Medicines Optimisation team receiving their HSJ Patient Safety Award 2023: (L-R) Lucy Porter (TV personality and awards host), pharmacists Victoria Birchall, Helen Iddon and Rachel Wilson, and Anita Macro (Deputy Head of Nursing at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust)MLCSU Medicines Optimisation team receiving their HSJ Patient Safety Award 2023: (L-R) Lucy Porter (TV personality and awards host), pharmacists Victoria Birchall, Helen Iddon and Rachel Wilson, and Anita Macro (Deputy Head of Nursing at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust)