Swansea University’s College of Human and Health Sciences held its first two-day practice innovation conference in nursing, allied health and social care this week (November 24-25), to officially launch the Wales Centre for Practice Innovation (WCPI).
The event – a collaborative project between Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, Hywel Dda Health Board and the Department of Nursing at Swansea University – showcased the positive work being undertaken by clinical staff in all areas of healthcare practice.
The newly formed WCPI seeks to make a positive and measurable difference to healthcare practice for service users and providers, by encouraging and supporting innovations in healthcare scholarship, practice, research and education.
From the outset the Centre has sought to identify intimate links with practice areas and clinical colleagues who are leading innovations in healthcare.
The conference’s keynote address was given by Dr Jean White, Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, who said: “I welcome this first Practice Innovation Conference as it offers an excellent opportunity for health and social care practitioners to come together to share their experiences of developing innovative improvements to care delivery.
“It is important for us all to share knowledge, particularly in a way that promotes integrated working across sectors and hopefully this event will motivate others to strive for improvements in the services they provide to the people of Wales.”
Caroline Oakley, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Hywel Dda Health Board, said: “This conference provides a wonderful opportunity to show how our staff work across professional boundaries and organisations to develop clinical practice to improve patient care and their experience.
“This event celebrates the success of collaborative working which is a founding principle of the Wales Centre for Practice Innovation.”
Dr Dave Barton, Head of Nursing at Swansea University’s College of Human and Health Sciences, said: “At a time of cuts and austerity measures it is crucial that the University works in collaboration with the Welsh NHS to support and encourage innovations in healthcare, which help ensure quality patient care.
“I have been overwhelmed by the level of enthusiasm and cooperation that this redevelopment has received from the highest management level, and the tidal wave of interest from clinicians on the shop floor. For all the bad press that the NHS receives, it is clear that there is a wealth of expertise and work being undertaken to ensure that we improve services and offer nothing but the finest of patient care.
“This conference has enabled us to showcase the array of practice innovation that has already emerged from the WCPI development. The Centre allows us to show the positive work that is being undertaken by clinical staff in all areas of practice, and how we, as a University, are working with them to publish and disseminate this activity.”
Lynne Jones, Head of Nursing, Education Workforce and Research, ABMU, said: “ABMU Health Board is delighted to be a partner in this first CNPI conference. The examples of innovation, developments and research displayed and presented are outstanding. It has been wonderful to see a wide range of motivated and enthusiastic presentations celebrating achievements and most importantly showing the difference made to patients.”
The WCPI originated from the Centre for Nursing Innovation (CNI), which was formed in 2009, when partners from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, Hywel Dda and the College of Human and Health Sciences collaborated to share their respective expertise.
The CNI allowed the three parties to build on previous collaborations and to develop a strategic view of the scope and diversity of nursing initiatives.
In October 2011, the CNI evolved into the Wales Centre for Practice Innovation, which reflected the development of a multi-professional network, and was formally launched at this well attended conference.
The Centre has already established links with other similar centres in England, Ireland and Australia and continues to build partnerships and share good practice in order to improve the quality of patient care in Wales.
