National Awards Nominations and Sponsorship Gathers Pace

The deadline for nominations for the National MyCleaning and MyPorter Awards, both in association with NHS England, is now only six weeks away.

The live events will each include a conference earlier in the day, featuring a keynote speech from NHS England’s Emma Brookes on cleaning standards and the next steps. Additionally, Phil Shelley of NHS England will provide an update for portering teams, discussing the plans and the latest on the new portering standards.

“I’m really looking forward to giving an update on where we’re at with the portering standards, giving those who will be implementing them within their hospitals a first glimpse of what we’re looking to achieve. This isn’t about us; it’s about them. These are their standards. Likewise, the awards aren’t about us; it’s about them. I can’t wait to be there, celebrating our wonderful portering and cleaning teams and the tremendous work and effort they show day in and day out. If you know someone or some team that really deserves some extra praise, please get your nominations in, as I can’t wait to read them.” - Phil Shelley, Senior Operational Manager at NHS England

Nominations are open until midday on January 12th, 2024, with portering and domestic services urged to submit their nominations now. Both the MyPorter and the MyCleaning awards category entries have been gaining momentum in recent weeks. These events celebrate the very best in non-clinical services, highlighting the teams and individuals that make them exceptional.

All awards categories are open to everyone within healthcare across the UK, as well as to those beyond with two International Awards categories available for nominations. If you would like to shine a spotlight on someone or a team deserving of praise and the highest recognition among their peers and NHS England, then nominate today – don’t miss out on the chance to give them what they deserve.

Nominate now at: https://www.globalviewhealthcare.com/

ISS has been officially announced as the Gold sponsor for the National MyPorter Awards, and it has now been revealed that both BICSc (the British Institute of Cleaning Science) and GT Cleaning Machines are proudly sponsoring the National MyCleaning Awards. There are sponsorship opportunities still available to those companies wishing to show support for these unsung healthcare heroes. A sponsorship pack is available by emailing: marketing@globalviewsystems.co.uk.

ISS to Sponsor MyPorter Awards 2024

The annual MyPorter Awards, in support of Porters and Portering Teams within healthcare, will this year be backed by ISS, a leading workplace experience and facility management company which provides placemaking solutions that contribute to better business performance and makes life easier, more productive and enjoyable – delivered to high standards by people who care.

The awards, launched back in 2020 and now in it’s fourth year, aims to shine a spotlight on the great work portering teams do day in, day out, with last years’ winning team featured on Sky News’ Kay Burley Show – raising the profile of a sometimes thankless profession.

The day isn’t all about the glitz of an awards ceremony, with the full event in association with NHS England seeing a live conference, allowing those in attendance to learn about important topics and advances within portering from a plethora of guests and sources, giving them the opportunity to take that knowledge back to their own Trusts. There is also a live panel, so guests can raise questions and queries to those key decision makers and those who have been carefully selected to share best practice. The MyPorter Awards is a day of education and celebration.

Donna Brown, MD for Healthcare at ISS, said: “At ISS, we know how integral our hospital porters are to the flow and function of the NHS hospitals we serve. They have a direct, positive impact on the hospital’s successful performance, and play a critical part in shaping patient experience as a welcoming face at both the start and end of a hospital visit. That’s why I’m delighted that ISS is sponsoring the MyPorter Awards, recognising excellence among porters across the country and celebrating the work they do to keep our health service running smoothly.”

There are a number of award categories to suit all types of achievement, these include:

MyPorter – Porter of The Year – Award

The Dennis Southern - Lifetime Achievement Award

Portering Team of The Year Award

Leadership of The Year Award

MyPorter – International Porter of The Year – Award

Newcomer of The Year Award

Outstanding Contribution to Patient Experience Award

Entries are open now and open to anyone within portering in UK healthcare – whether that’s NHS or otherwise, and there is an International Porter of The Year award category for those worldwide who wish to enter.

To learn more about ISS and their services, please visit:

https://www.issworld.com/

To Enter the awards, you can do so, here:

https://www.myporterlogistics.com/

How Effective Portering Can Drive NHS Objectives - Urgent and Emergency Care

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, the pursuit of excellence continues to reshape patient care. As we delve into the National NHS objectives for 2023/24, it's evident that a strategic focus on portering services holds the potential to drive monumental shifts in patient outcomes, access, and safety. At GV Healthcare, we're committed to exploring the pivotal role of effective portering in meeting these objectives and revolutionizing the way healthcare is delivered.

Setting the Stage: NHS 2023/24 Priorities

As we enter 2023/24, the NHS outlines three key tasks to shape its trajectory. The first task revolves around recovering core services and productivity, closely followed by advancing the key ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan. Transformation remains a fundamental thread interwoven into every action and strategy.

Immediate Priorities and Recovery

Central to the NHS objectives is the urgent need to recover core services and productivity. This demands focusing on several critical aspects, including:

• Improving ambulance response times and A&E waiting times.

• Reducing elective long waits and addressing the backlog of cancer cases.

• Enhancing the core diagnostic standard to improve performance.

• Facilitating seamless access to primary care services, with a special emphasis on enhancing general practice efficiency.

The Power of Recovery and Flow Improvement

A vital facet of achieving these objectives lies in enhancing productivity and optimizing whole-system flow. This involves a series of targeted actions, such as:

• Reducing ambulance handovers and bed occupancy.

• Enhancing outpatient follow-ups relative to first appointments.

• Increasing day case rates and theatre utilization.

• Exploring self-referral options for community services where GP intervention isn't essential.

• Augmenting the workforce capacity in areas like beds, intermediate care, diagnostics, and ambulance services.

The Role of Effective Portering in Improving Flow

Among the array of strategies aimed at optimizing flow, the role of effective portering stands out. A well-coordinated porter service aligning with scheduled resource capacity and hourly call volume demand has demonstrated significant contributions to efficient patient flow and reduced wait times. By ensuring that clinicians can focus on patient care rather than porter tasks, prioritizing patients in need of urgent care, and fostering closer collaboration between clinicians and porters, the foundation for enhanced flow is laid.

Evidence from the Field

Take, for instance, Hull University Teaching Hospital Trust. They experienced an average time reduction of 90 seconds per task, resulting in enhanced efficiency. This integration of digital portering solutions, such as touchscreens with a digital portering system, has yielded remarkable outcomes. This integration provides real-time visibility into portering requests, enabling efficient allocation of resources. Notably, the system empowers staff to identify bottlenecks and allocate portering services based on demands, further streamlining capacity management.

Meeting the Challenge: A Collective Effort

Efficient portering is a cornerstone of capacity management and flow optimization in the dynamic environment of Emergency Departments. It's imperative to recognize that the capacity-demand dynamics are pivotal to effective portering services. In large acute-care hospitals, a significant proportion of in-patients access healthcare services through the Emergency Department (ED), necessitating effective flow management.

Voices from the Field: Enhancing Capacity Management

David May, Deputy Head of Facilities Logistics, highlights the concept of "push and pull." This system responds swiftly to sudden increases in activity, ensuring that porters are allocated to the right areas at the right time. Dave Houghton, Interim Portering Postal & Switchboard Manager, echoes the sentiment, emphasizing that the right allocation of porters enhances patient flow and overall efficiency.

Efficiency and Beyond

The integration of touchscreens and digital portering management systems has ushered in a new era of efficiency. By simplifying the portering request process, eliminating manual paperwork, and enhancing real-time visibility into tasks, these systems optimize operational efficiency. Mark Vipond, Porter Supervisor, praises the simplicity of touchscreens and how they've streamlined the process. Jay Choudry, Porter Supervisor, adds that the system allows efficient task prioritization throughout the day.

A Glimpse into the Future

As healthcare embarks on this transformative journey, the strategic deployment of effective portering emerges as a linchpin in meeting NHS objectives. With continuous advancements in technology and innovative solutions, the evolution of portering services is poised to enhance patient outcomes, optimize flow, and ultimately contribute to a healthcare landscape that aligns with the vision of the NHS 2023/24 priorities.

To find out more about how effective portering can drive NHS objectives and help your Trust, contact gvhealthcare@globalviewsystems.co.uk