KSS AHSN has a strong commitment to Quality Improvement, both within its own projects and in the support of those across the whole health and care system.
To further support and encourage those actively working on QI projects, we recently held the first of two ‘Quality Improvement at its Best’ events.
The event, in Maidstone on January 29, was themed around Collaborating across boundaries, giving delegates from across Kent & Medway the opportunity to discuss their wicked problems and learn more about different QI approaches. The second event, at the end of March, will give those working in Sussex a similar opportunity.
The morning session brought together a selection of the region’s Q members, giving them a safe space in which to discuss their work and the way in which the Health Foundation’s Q Community supports them. We also looked at the way the Kent & Medway Q community could support the Kent & Medway STP / ICS with their wicked problems by helping work through the issues in a creative way.
After lunch, more than 80 individuals with a passion for QI joined the event, where they heard from Professor Keith Grint – a renowned expert on Wicked Problems and Leadership. Subsequent sessions helped delegates to consider their own approach to Wicked Problems and hear presentations from three QI projects from across Kent.
Ursula Clarke, Patient Safety Lead at Kent Surrey Sussex Patient Safety Collaborative, said the event showed the depth of experience and enthusiasm, that exists across the region.
“One of the things which struck me on the day was the way in which delegates were so open to the idea of sharing their learning and supporting colleagues across the health and care system,” she said.
“Many of the issues that we’re facing individually are replicated across different organisations, and I believe that QI can make a real impact.”
This was echoed by Cathy Bellman, Kent and Medway STP Local Care Programme Lead at Kent and Medway STP:
“The benefit of coming together at the event is that it allows us time to think, reflect and work with other people with different perspectives on the issues that we’re all collectively trying to solve,” she said.
“We’ve all got more in common than we realise, there’s nothing within our own organisations that is particularly different from others. More heads are better than one and if we can look at a QI approach together then that can only be a good thing.”
The next Quality Improvement at its Best event is being held in Crawley on March 31. There are still spaces for Q Members to join the morning session, however the afternoon is fully booked. If you’d like to be added to the waiting list or find out more, view our events page.
