UCLPartners and North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust
Through 2018, MedLed worked in partnership with UCLPartners to support four NHS trusts in developing internal Human Factors expertise.
Challenges
Each organisation within the initiative were seeking to improve the care and safety of their patients and the wellbeing of staff. In particular, they wished to reduce significant stress around cardiac arrest events, particularly for junior doctors, and the challenges of a complex 24-7 working environment. The organisational faculties came into the process from a wide range of professional backgrounds, differing levels of experience and expectations, so ensuring that the training and follow up support was inclusive and applicable to all was important to the success of the programme.
Solutions
Each organisation selected a four-person faculty (with guidance from UCLPartners), who were provided with comprehensive initial training, and follow-up support over a 10 month period – during which time they embarked on various initiatives within their own organisation.
Impact
With the information learnt on the course and the continued support the team at North Middlesex has achieved a number of significant goals including setting up a "Hospital at night" programme, and developing and launching a daily cardiac arrest team brief significantly reducing stress levels for junior doctors.
They also set up a series of educational events for all staff groups to introduce the principles of Human Factors across the organisation, following MedLed's "Train the Trainer" model.
This training has had more impact on my practice than anything else I have done in my career. Throughout the programme I have been impressed by Ben’s skills as a trainer. He is an engaging and authentic speaker who provides real life examples from his own experience to illustrate the concepts. He has a broad knowledge of human factors principles drawn from a number of industries but is able to draw conclusions relevant to healthcare. During the course Ben managed a group of 16 people from a variety of professional backgrounds with differing levels of experience and expectations very professionally. He ensured all members were able to participate in discussions and no single person or group dominated the conversation. He had a flexible approach and was able to adapt the course to suit the needs of the group.