Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital's quest to achieve Magnet designation continues

Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH)’s quest to achieve Magnet designation continues, with feedback from families gathered through the service’s quarterly survey contributing to improvements which have now been highlighted as part of their application. 

 

Staff got together to celebrate the success of a huge number of improvement projects. From equipping every nurse in the hospital’s medical ward with their own thermometer (rather than accessing shared resources) to introducing an infusion (rather than injection) option for teenage gastro patients, small changes can make a big difference to the children and young people in their care.  

 

 

In addition to patient surveys helping to inform the improvement projects staff have undertaken across children’s services, shared decision-making groups empower staff across nursing, medical and support teams to have a say in matters that affect them and those in their care. 

 

Clinical Nurse Manager Kerry Cameron explained: “Feedback from staff highlights Magnet is helping colleagues adopt a ‘can do’ attitude despite the challenges currently facing our NHS. It is enabling teams to build research skills and advocate for patients using evidence they’ve gathered themselves.  

 

“In many ways we’re further ahead than hospitals across the world. We're already doing some really great things for staff and patients, and the Magnet process is helping us improve on things that improve patient outcomes as well as celebrate all the things we’re getting right. A big thank you to our patients and families who complete surveys and engage with us so well to make a difference every day.”  

 

Patient experience and satisfaction in children’s services has improved since the surveys started in 2023, from around 75% to 95% overall. If successful, RACH will be the first children’s hospital in the UK and the first hospital in Scotland achieving Magnet designation. It will be a huge boost for attracting new staff and retaining the great talent we have here in the North-east. 

 

Please ask any member of children’s services staff for the QR code that allows you to tell us how we are doing. In all other areas, you can share your feedback via Care Opinion.