Cascade Summer/Autumn 2012 - Plymouth Hospitals

cascade_summer_2012_1.5:Cascade_Winter_2011 23/10/2012 13:48 Page 17
17Awards and achievements
Histopathology Receive Prestigious Innovation Award
A team from Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust were announced as one of the winners of the NHS
Innovations Challenge Prizes.
Dr Dean Harmse, Consultant Histopathologist, Miss Madeleine Stephens and Mrs Carole Stoddard,
Biomedical Scientists and a team from the Histopathology Laboratory were announced as winners at a
ceremony hosted by the Department of Health and the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement in
London. They have been awarded £50,000 for their project, which significantly improved the turnaround
times for cancer diagnosis in the histopathology laboratory at Derriford Hospital.
The NHS Innovations Challenge Prizes are run by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement and
are different from conventional award schemes in that prizes are awarded for achievement of specific
challenges, set out in advance. The challenges range from significant improvements in delivery to major
clinical breakthroughs. The awards are substantial, with prize money amounts that reflect the nature of
the challenge and the added value of the innovation to the NHS and its patients.
Dr Harmse explains: “The histopathology laboratory examines tissues in order to identify disease
process. Making a diagnosis in the laboratory is essential for clinicians to plan the right type of treatment
for an individual patient, especially in cancer cases. We had recognised in the laboratory that, similar to
other histopathology laboratories around the country, we were experiencing backlogs of work at various
stages of processing samples.
“We designed a process that ensures flow through the laboratory by dividing the work up into different
streams (‘Green Stream’, ‘Yellow Stream’ and ‘Red Stream’). This is based on the complexity of the
specimen and the technical work required to process the specimen. We then manage the flow of each of
these streams of work at every stage of the process through the laboratory on a daily basis.”
Dr Harmse continues: “Our innovation completely cleared our backlog and led us to achieve turnaround
times well above national standards. This innovative way of working has now been in place for more
than a year so it shows that it is sustainable. Biopsy results are now available to clinicians to allow them
to make clinical decisions in a timely fashion.
“This innovation is based on LEAN principles, but it would not have been possible without the
engagement of the whole team in the Cellular Pathology Department. My sincere thanks goes to each
and every member of the team. Without their hard work, enthusiasm and dedication this would not have
been possible.”