Children’s Observation Hub finalist in two categories at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards

The Children’s Observation Hub, a project that supports local families with advice, treatment, and reassurance when their child is ill, was a finalist in the HSJ Patient Safety Awards which were held earlier this week (16 September).

The Hub had been shortlisted in both the Improving Care for Children and Young People Initiative of the Year and Primary Care Initiative of the Year categories at the prestigious HSJ Patient Safety Awards, which recognises safety, culture and positive experience in patient care.

The Children’s Observation Hub is a collaboration between Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership and Conexus Healthcare CIC, aimed at reducing high levels of paediatric A&E attendance across the Wakefield District.

The community-based hub offered virtual and face to face observation and an innovative day pass approach and provided parents of ill children aged 3 months to 16 years, with clinical advice, treatment, and reassurance as an alternative to A&E over winter 2023/24. In just six months, the Hub provided care and support to 2,518 children and their families, with 2,559 contacts made in total.

Following its success over the winter months, the Children’s Observation Hub returned from July 2024 to assess and observe children aged three months to 16 years with ‘amber’ respiratory, fever or gastroenteritis. The Hub is accessed out of hours through the evening and weekend GP service, GP Care Wakefield, and is reached by calling the usual GP practice number.

A full list of finalists and winners for the 2024 HSJ Patient Safety Awards can be found at https://awards.patientsafetycongress.co.uk/