Posted on: 23 August 2024
Members of the QI team had the brilliant opportunity to attend the International Forum on Quality & Safety in Healthcare, jointly organised by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and British Medical Journal (BMJ) back in April of this year. It’s been a few months so we thought what better time to reflect on our time there, what we took away from the experience, and how we can apply this into our coaching and networking with colleagues from across the Trust.
As we end one academic year and head into the next, it’s important to us that we highlight our own opportunities for learning and development so we can best support services (and teams that we coach) across the Trust. We like to ensure our knowledge is up to date with the latest from the QI world, and share any learning with teams gained from events such as this one. Members of the QI team have included some personal reflections below. Feel free to contact them to find out more about the event and how the learning can be implemented within your project.
A special shout out goes to Geetika Singh, our Head of Quality Improvement, who was joined by Janet, one of our EbE colleagues, to present at the international event. They had over 200 people sign up to this session. Another shout out goes to Dr Isaac Obeng, one of the Improvement Advisors at CNWL (aligned to Jameson), who presented the CNWL improvement work on a poster stage.
Geetika Singh speaking at the Quality and Safety in Healthcare forum with Janet
Dr Isaac Obeng speaking at the Quality and Safety in Healthcare Forum
Reflections from the QI Team
“I was most looking forward to hearing about the innovative work of other organisations and making new connections. I’ve presented at previous events so knew what to expect but having the event in London was even more special this year. The energy and enthusiasm created as part of the two days was amazing. It was a really motivating experience.
I would love to see more CNWL posters at the event in future. We have so many fabulous projects that we could present on this international platform. The Improvement Academy will work to support teams to submit posters at next year’s forum in Utrecht.
Amy Edmundson’s session about her book ‘The Right Kind of Wrong’ was inspirational. She talked about failing well in an uncertain world. I’ll definitely be buying her book and having a read.”
“Looking back on the run up to the conference, I was most looking forward to talks that concerned the future of healthcare and the NHS; especially considering the diverse range of perspectives at the conference. As expected, these didn’t fail to deliver. As someone still relatively new to the NHS, the future is something often at the forefront of my mind.
For me the greatest privilege was the opportunity to hear the various international perspectives. Working day-to-day it is easy to become blindsided, in any profession, but I believe that in healthcare (and especially improvement) this is a dangerous habit to fall into. Learning from others and understanding that people share the same challenges and successes is incredibly valuable. But for me the highlight of the two days was being able to experience it with our CNWL colleagues, especially as a relatively new starter in the team.”
“I had a great experience at the recent IHI/BMJ conference. It was refreshing to see that other Trusts and hospitals across the world are doing improvement work similar to what we are doing, which provides an opportunity for sharing learning.
As an advocate for service user and carer involvement in improvement work, the most enjoyable and beneficial part of the two-day event for me was learning from colleagues about their practices related to service user and carer involvement in improvement work.
One key takeaway for me was the importance of ensuring that our Expert by Experience community reflects the diverse communities served by the Trust. By fostering inclusivity and diversity, we can access a wider array of perspectives, experiences, and expertise, leading to more comprehensive and effective discussions while supporting improvement work across the Trust”
“Going into the event, I felt incredibly grateful for the opportunity given to me by CNWL to attend such a world-renowned conference. I was most looking forward to being in a large arena with lots of different nationalities and staff groups, having never experienced something of this scale before. It was a full on two days with lots to listen to, learn and see.
I chose a plethora of different workshops and presentations to attend but my biggest take home was how important involving a lived experience colleague is in any QI project you are leading or involved in and using ‘The Ladder of Co-production' to ensure this is meaningful to all involved. This key party will ensure that you are thinking from the service user/carer/relative point of view and considering things sometimes us working professionals (referred to in this forum as ‘learnt’ experience) don’t always think of first.
I also enjoyed learning about how to best motivate your QI project team and key stakeholders, with it being extremely apparent how important it was to take the time to build relationships, trust and enthusiasm and find what their motivation is from the get-go.”
“Attending the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare in London was a truly inspiring experience. The event brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers, and researchers from around the globe, and the diversity of perspectives was both enlightening and motivating.
A standout moment for me was having the privilege of sharing insights from our work on large-scale Improvement Collaboratives. Presenting our successes and challenges allowed me to contribute to the collective knowledge and engage in meaningful discussions with others equally dedicated to advancing healthcare improvement on a large scale.
One of the most impactful themes of the forum was the emphasis on patient-centred care. Speakers highlighted the critical role of involving service users in healthcare delivery, with discussions centred on shared decision-making, personalised care plans, and empathy-driven practices. This approach resonated deeply with our ongoing commitment to involving Experts by Experience in our work.
Equity and inclusion were key topics as well, with a focus on addressing health disparities. The forum emphasised the need for equitable access to care through community engagement, cultural competence, and addressing social determinants of health.
Throughout the event, the spirit of collaboration was palpable. Attendees exchanged ideas, challenged assumptions, and committed to driving positive change together, creating a sense of shared purpose.
In summary, the International Forum was a transformative experience that deepened my understanding of global healthcare challenges, expanded my professional network, and reignited my passion for making a positive impact in the field. I left with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to applying these insights to enhance the quality and safety of care in my practice”.