What is the challenge your project is going to address and how does it connect to your chosen theme?

The challenges in the Heart Centre currently are waiting time for patients and reduced RTT compliance.  Bed pressures at busy periods affect the recovery areas, reducing the number of patients that can be treated and patients have to be cancelled.

What does your project aim to achieve?

This project offers a potential to achieve safe mobilisation and same day discharge of patients receiving radial artery access.   This will reduce cancellations in busy periods as the patients do not require a bed for recovery, additional patients will be able to be treated, reducing waiting times and increasing the RTT compliance.  This will in turn lead to an improved experience for our patients.  Nurses and technicians will be upskilled to perform specific procedures, which will free up the Consultants to see more of the complex patients.

How will the project be delivered?

Part of the Heart Centre will be redesigned from the current ward format to a radial lounge format.  This will involve changing from beds to reclining chairs suitable for daycase patient recovery.  A dedicated treatment room will also be created to carry out specific cases, supported by technicians and nurses.

What and how is your project going to share learning throughout?

The activity through the recovery area will be monitored throughout to ensure patients that can recover in a chair rather than a bed are utilising the radial lounge.  Patient and staff experience of the revised way of working will also be monitored and shared throughout the project.