UHNM Team of the Month: Ward 80 (Integrated Discharge Unit)

Staff on a UHNM ward helping to reduce the amount of time patients who are well enough to go home spend in hospital have received recognition for their work. 

The Integrated Discharge Unit (IDU) was set up on Ward 80 at the Royal Stoke University Hospital in November 2023 to support patients who are medically fit to be discharged whilst a place of care is assessed and finalised.

Working with UHNM’s Integrated Discharge Hub, the Unit frees up acute beds in other parts of the hospital and speeds up discharge times, and now its staff have received UHNM’s Team of the Month Award. 

Jane McFarlane, Business Support Manager at UHNM who nominated staff on Ward 80 for the award, said: “The IDU was set up on Ward 80 for medically fit for discharge patients to transfer into whilst a best place of care was assessed and supported, releasing capacity back into UHNM’s acute portals. Staff on the Unit work closely with those in the Integrated Discharge Hub to identify appropriate patients and support safe discharge planning. 

“Since the Unit’s launch back in November 2023, Ward 80 staff have undertaken significate changes in their practice to provide excellent care and support to patients, their family members, and carers. It’s thanks to them that the IDU has helped UHNM to reduce the overall length of stay in medically fit for discharge patients and shows that teamwork and working with partners can be successful and innovating.”   

The team were presented with their award by Lisa Thomson, Director of Communications and Charity.   

Jane Harvard, Senior Sister, said: “I’m extremely proud of the team, who have embraced change and worked very hard to contribute to the IDU’s success. It’s been a big adaption for a lot of people, but there’s been a lot of hard work into getting people home safely, which is our primary objective.”