NHS Scotland staff improve patient care with quality training

Almost 2,000 NHS Scotland employees have received healthcare training over the past two years helping them dedicate more time to looking after patients.

According to a report published by the Releasing Time to Care (RTC) National Team led by NHS Education for Scotland and Healthcare Improvement Scotland, there is clear evidence of savings and efficiencies since staff began the learning and development programme.

The initiative requires workers to utilise a range of tools and modules enabling them to review their systems and practices and ultimately eliminate any inefficiencies in their schedules.

Following completion of the RTC initiative, time spent with patients increased by 64 per cent in 19 wards across Scotland.

NHS Education for Scotland's Julie Main said the organisation has seen compelling examples that show there has been a real difference in the quality of patient care.

"The success of the programme has provided a new and more efficient way of working in the NHS in Scotland - a process that now provides a better quality of direct care to patients," she added.

Other positive consequences of the training include saving more than 2,000 hours a year previously spent on staff handovers and shared communication and over 4,200 nursing hours, leading to medication being dispensed at the correct times.

If you want to find out more about the work being done by healthcare professionals to improve training and operations, not just in Scotland but across the whole of the UK, then stay tuned for more information about the Lean Healthcare Awards being hosted by top e-learning provider Virtual College on February 6th.

The event is dedicated to sharing best practice and advice, and 23 leading healthcare organisations have been shortlisted for a number of accolades, including the Embrace Technology Award, Sustained Improvement Award and Lean Champion of the Year 2014.

Virtual College's healthcare manager Sue Bradbury said: "This year over 100 entries have been through the judging process and the calibre of projects is the highest ever - it is clear 2013 has seen some great achievements in the healthcare sector."