Macmillan Unit celebrates development award (From Bournemouth Echo)

Macmillan Unit celebrates development award

11:02am Monday 8th February 2010 in

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Staff in the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital are celebrating having received a Practice Development Unit (PDU) Accreditation.

The accreditation was awarded to staff by the Institute of Health and Community Studies at Bournemouth University.

The University has been assessing the Macmillan Unit since September 2007, reviewing their progress in meeting a total of 13 standards that are required to achieve the award. These included the Unit’s service provision, communication structure, staff development programme and the provision of patient information.

Members of staff were encouraged to come up with ideas on how to turn good practice into best practice. This led to a number of improvements within the Unit.

For example, a children’s area has been created so children are occupied when visiting patients, patient information leaflets have been produced and palliative care education sessions have been introduced for community nurses at nursing homes within the local area.

Sharon Cudlip, Clinical Leader at the Macmillan Unit commented: “Staff are so proud that the Macmillan Unit has been awarded PDU Accreditation.

"It is fantastic recognition of how hard the team works to constantly develop better working practices that improve the patient experience and maintain the highest standard for palliative care.”

Linda Kaye, PDU Consultant at Bournemouth University commented: "The panel was very impressed with the staff of the Macmillan Unit and they have worked hard to achieve the requirements for accreditation.

"This has involved staff developing and improving the care and services they offer to patients, using the appropriate research and evidence base."