NHS chiefs in Teesside are celebrating being highly commended for the innovative work they have done to improve the health and wellbeing of patients before surgery, which is making a huge difference to patient recovery.
The ‘PREPWELL’ team were runners up in the Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine Team of the Year Category of the British Medical Journal Awards announced on 7th October 2020.
David Gallagher, chief officer, NHS Tees Valley CCG said, ‘This is a fantastic programme which is making a real difference to patients health and deserves national recognition.
‘Helping patients to improve their health through exercise and support such as smoking cessation is making a difference to how quick patients recover after surgery. There is less risk of complications which is great news and I want to say congratulations to all those involved.’
The programme supports patients in the community up to six to eight weeks before surgery, preventing the need to go into hospital and continues that support up to three months after surgery.
Paul Baker, director for research and innovation at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said, ‘This is a really successful programme and the team have done a great job. Evidence shows that patients taking part in the programme have more confidence and less anxiety about going into surgery and they also continue to be more active after surgery. It is supporting patients to make healthier lifestyle choices, which is having a positive impact on their overall health.’
‘Our team are absolutely delighted to have received this national commendation and it is a reflection of all the hard work we have all put in for the benefit of our patients over the last 3 years.
‘We are also grateful that the patients themselves speak very highly of the service which we plan to extend over coming months.’ added Professor Gerard Danjoux, Consultant Anaesthetist and Prehabilitation Lead for South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The PREPWELL programme has been developed by NHS Tees Valley CCG, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Public Health South Tees, Sport England and Northumbria University.
For more information on PREPWELL visit southtees.nhs.uk/services/prepwell-project