Digital leaders: Sheffield Children’s shortlisted for two national health awards

Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for two HSJ Digital Awards.

The ‘Information Resource Library’ has been nominated for the Replicating Digital Best Practice Award in recognition of its innovative approach to digitising information leaflets while prioritising accessibility. The project has been shortlisted following its transformation of the way information about conditions and treatments are shared with children and their families.

By taking an accessibility-first approach, the project team digitised 1,000 paper leaflets into formats which people with different communication needs can access, share among caregivers, and print at home if needed. The inclusion of a live-conversion feature which allows the latest version of a resource to be printed out and given to a family in person was applauded for its focus on reducing health inequalities caused by digital exclusion.

Yvonne Millard MBE, Chief Nurse at Sheffield Children’s said: “We’re immensely proud of what our Resource Library project has achieved so far. From enabling video and telephone appointments, reducing anxiety before treatments, to reducing our carbon footprint, this shortlisting is the cherry on top of the cake. We’re really pleased to be recognised in this way and shows how we’re providing a leading example to other providers in how they can make a similar difference to the children, young people and families they care for.”

Since launch, information resources on the site have been viewed more than 160,000 times.  Printing has reduced by 97.5%, saving 3 tonnes of paper (30 trees) and 1.8 tonnes of CO2 each year. Families surveyed since launch rated the ease of access and usability at 96% and 98% compared to 70% and 64% before the project began.

The Resource Library can be viewed at library.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk

Sheffield Children’s has also received a second HSJ Digital Award shortlisting for its collaborative work alongside Tutum Medical Ltd, which involved the implementation of the Bedside Equipment Alarm Monitoring System (BEAMS). This partnership work has been shortlisted in the Enhancing Workforce Engagement, Productivity and Wellbeing through Digital category.

The multi-award-winning BEAMS system was developed for and with Sheffield Children’s by Tutum Medical Ltd, in response to the trust identifying a risk to staff wellbeing and patient safety that would occur as our wards moved to a new-build single-bed room structure.

Susan Ievers, Head of Nursing (CWAMH) at Sheffield Children’s said: “We’re delighted to be shortlisted for this HSJ Digital Award. It’s a great reflection on the partnership we have built with Tutum Medical Ltd and how well the BEAMS system has been introduced across our wards. Thank you to our dedicated colleagues on the wards who have been instrumental in making this happen. It’s also another step on our digital journey, which will continue to ensure that we can provide compassionate care for our patients and their families.”

Paul Rawlinson, Managing Director of Tutum Medical Ltd said: “This is fantastic news and credit to everyone involved in producing and implementing this highly innovative digital solution to solve what is a major problem in hospitals across the country. The BEAMS system is currently cutting alarm response time by up to 95%, considerably lowering alarm fatigue and enhancing staff availability to serve important patients effectively.”

Congratulations to everyone who has contributed to this recognition. Sheffield Children’s will discover the outcome of the awards at the ceremony in June 2023.