The Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards took place last night (18 November) at Evolution London in Battersea Park. This year’s awards attracted more than 1,000 entrants across the 23 categories.

The NHS Wide Steroid Safety Strategy was highly commended and a finalist in the Patient Safety Award category. Congratulations to the whole team for this fantastic recognition of the dedication and hard work of so many.

It is a privilege that the steroid safety work is a finalist, particularly when set against the backdrop of COVID-19. The quality of finalists is a true testament to those who continue to push outstanding work and transformational projects across the sector.

Patient Safety Award 2021 Finalists

Back in September, Dr Helen Simpson (ADSHG Medical Trustee and Endocrine Consultant), Dr John Dean (Head of Royal College of Physicians (RCP) Patient Safety Committee), and Philippa Sharman (Addison's Disease Self-Help Group), gave their final presentation to the HSJ judging panel. The aim of the presentation was to demonstrate the importance of the strategy, the cross-specialty work to implement the strategy and the patient’s perspective.

Following the in-depth judging process, with a judging panel made up of a diverse range of highly influential and respected figures within the healthcare community, a layer of suspense was added to the proceedings as the team had to wait 7 weeks to hear the results!

Thank you to Dr Helen Simpson and Dr John Dean for inviting ADSHG to be part of the final presentation, championing the patient voice and ensuring the lived experience of living with steroid dependency was heard. As Philippa shared during the final presentation:

"The emotional and physical impact of poor treatment and adrenal crisis should never be underestimated. The effect, voice and practical change the NHS Steroid Safety Strategy is providing has been an incredible step forward for those who are steroid-dependent, but this is just the beginning.”

 

The NHS Steroid Emergency Card (SEC) and NHS Wide Steroid Safety Strategy

The objective for entering the HSJ awards was to highlight the exceptional work done on the development of the NHS Steroid Emergency Card and NHS-wide Steroid Safety Strategy. People with adrenal insufficiency die or become very unwell when their steroids are omitted in hospital as shown by a National Safety and Learning Report. A team led by Dr Helen Simpson developed the NHS Steroid Emergency Card, working with NHS England and NHS Improvement to develop a National Patient Safety Alert (NatPSA) with actions to keep people with adrenal insufficiency safe to be implemented by all NHS organisations.

National Patient Safety Alert

Guidance for the prevention and emergency management of adult patients with adrenal insufficiency.

Society for Endocrinology Adrenal Crisis page

Pulse Today article by ADSHG Medical Trustees: issue March 2021 pgs 34-35.

The NHS Steroid Emergency Card was launched early, during wave 1 of the COVID-19 pandemic, when medical services were stretched beyond the limit. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, 20,000 cards have been issued to date, with downloads and copies kept on mobile devices, further increasing the reach of the card. The team have taken advantage of Zoom, with Dr Helen Simpson giving multiple webinars to healthcare professionals and organisations, and the ADSHG Paramedic CPD Training sessions also including the strategy and card.

Learn more about the NHS Steroid Emergency Card

Behind the scenes, multiple organisations have been involved. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society disseminated to community pharmacy teams provided an invaluable link during the pandemic when we as patients could not see our GP’s or Endocrinologists face to face and so not able to pick up cards as we would have done. The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) and British Pharmacological Society are working with the team to implement the SEC as well as the 'sick day rules' more widely. This type of cross-specialty working is embedding the strategy and improving the safe management of steroid-dependency.

View the Society for Endocrinology Adrenal Crisis resources

Having a National Patient Safety Alert now provides a clear route for us as patients to give feedback when things don’t go as they should. Many of you have told us you now feel more able to challenge staff who do not realise the need for additional steroids when unwell in hospital by sharing the information on the card. At the ADSHG, our aim has always been for us as patients to feel empowered and to have the information they need to speak up. This strategy further drives this cultural change. At the ADSHG we’re so grateful to be supported by a team where listening to the patients and offering patient centred care is at the heart of their plans.

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Philippa explains how the strategy has impacted from the patient’s perspective: 

“Being a finalist reflects the valuable progress that has been made on improving awareness, support and the commitment and dedication of the healthcare professionals to implement the scheme to whom we are so grateful.

At the core of the strategy is the aim to protect our community at their most vulnerable. The speed with which you can become unwell when having an adrenal crisis and the need to have your steroids on time when an inpatient, requires this strategy to provide clarity, reducing pain, fear and ultimately deaths.

Having the NHS backed card in our hands provides immediate reassurance that should we become unwell with no advocate – there are clear instructions and a system to back it up. The strategy also targets our day-to-day lives, helping schools, universities, employers know our medical needs. Overall we feel the improved mental health benefits, for ourselves as well as our loved ones."

ADSHG member Mel kindly shared how the Steroid Emergency Card helped her when she collapsed and vomited on a London-Newcastle train journey. She tells us:

“About 1 and a half hours into the journey I started feeling unwell and went to the vestibule where I crashed on the floor. When I raised my head I was sick. Thankfully my husband reacted immediately and injected me. There was also a doctor on the train who dealt with adrenal insufficiency for kids. She was great because the guy at York Station (next nearest one) said I had to get off and phone my GP and no ambulance to be called. She [the doctor] phoned the ambulance herself and used the NHS steroid card to explain.

The paramedic said the card was brilliant. I've had it on my bedside table [in hospital] just in case but I've not needed to explain anything. This was my worst fear and I needn't have worried."

Whilst we have received many positive stories, this is still not case for everyone. With work still to do, hearing from you our members, we learn rapidly where this is needed most. Further awareness in emergency departments is the next key focus for the team.

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The annual awards shine a light on healthcare excellence, and it was great to have the NHS Steroid Emergency Card (SEC) and NHS Wide Steroid Safety Strategy recognised, congratulations to all the finalists and winners!

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About the HSJ Awards

The most coveted accolade in UK healthcare, the HSJ awards is the largest annual benchmarking and recognition programme for the health sector. Over the last 40 years the awards have been celebrating healthcare excellence through huge political, technological and financial challenges within the sector. Through a rigorous, fair and transparent judging process the awards produce a roll call of the best organisations, teams and people in the NHS and the wider health sector.

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