A BARNSLEY Hospital project which has helped speed up children with minor head injuries being discharged has been shortlisted for a national award.

The project has been shortlisted for the Quality Improvement Initiative category, which recognises safety, culture and positive experience in patient care, at the HSJ Patient Safety Awards.

The initiative has saved an estimated 300 hours in patient waiting time and 32 hours of healthcare professional time.

The project reduces waiting times for simple treatments like wound closure with glue or ‘Steri Strips’.

This care journey improves the patient experience and frees up time for healthcare professionals to attend to more severely ill children, enhancing their care too.

Lead nurse for the children’s emergency department and assessment unit Lucy Schofield said: “I am so proud that we have been shortlisted for this award.

“It is amazing to have this recognition for the hard work and dedication that our team have towards providing exceptional nursing care.

“To win the award would be aspirational and truly show that we can achieve great things by working collaboratively.

“We hope to inspire others to do the same and build upon what we have learnt from this quality improvement project.”

Winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at Manchester Central, on September 16.