RCPCH EQIP – Innovations to improve care for paediatric epilepsy patients
On 17 March 2022, almost 20 paediatric epilepsy service teams took us on their quality improvement journey; celebrated their achievements; explained what they've learned and how they adapted under the ongoing pressures of the pandemic.
RCPCH EQIP event reflections on the day.
Dr Pat O’Connor, Expert QI Trainer, CEO, QI Discovery, Dr Colin Dunkley, Consultant Paediatrician, Sherwood Forest NHS Trust, Epilepsy12 clinical lead and Mark Devlin, Chief Executive Officer, Young Epilepsy, offer there reflections on the amazing project interventions presented at the shared learning event.
Event programme
The quality improvement training programme aims to support paediatric epilepsy teams to work together in defining their shared aim, identifying current gaps in service provision and developing practical interventions matching their capacity and resources.
The event was hosted by the RCPCH Epilepsy Quality Improvement Programme (EQIP) and chaired by Mr Mark Devlin, CEO of Young Epilepsy, who facilitated stimulating Q&A sessions around project outcomes, lessons learnt from the paediatric epilepsy services and ideas on how quality improvement can be sustained in future.
Mark Devlin opened the conference by introducing the programme, speakers and aims of the event which was to celebrate team achievements, followed by an introduction to the recently established NHSEI/CYP transformation programme :National Oversight group. The group has established a programme of work to improve the care and outcomes for CYP with epilepsy.
The online event saw just over 100 delegates in attendance. Presentations from EQIP teams shared their learning from their project interventions that covered a variety of QI topics on: reducing waiting times for new referrals, SUDEP discussion, mental health support pathways and establishing a transition service to name a few. The presenters shared their honest experiences on their journey which resulted in enthused interest from the audience requesting further details on how they could implement their own local service improvements.
Visit or social media at #RCPCHEQIP for future updates on the teams. If you have any questions about the event, or would like to contact the EQIP teams, please email the EQIP team at eqip@rcpch.ac.uk.
Delegate testimonies on the day
"Thank you for the amazing session.
I am glad I took part in it".
"So many of these projects have the potential to inspire wider improvement activity and are translatable to the development of new delivery frameworks on a national scale".
"I liked that most of the teams shared their templates and were able to discuss how the changes were seen in clinics".
"That there is so much innovation happening all across the UK in this area which I was previously not aware about, this inspires me to look at care pathways within the trust that I work".
"Overall excellent event".
Presentations on the day
Improve first seizure pathway with key aim to ensure 75% or more of first seizure patients are seen within 2-4 weeks.
Dr Jim Baird, Consultant Paediatrician, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust.
To review 50% of referrals for first seizure by 4 weeks or less by end of March 2022.
Dr Beena Kurup, Consultant Paediatrician, North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.
To improve the quality of communication for 10% of CYP with complex epilepsy.
Dr Anas Olabi, Consultant Paediatrician, University hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.
To standardize a toolkit for clinicians to use for providing information on SUDEP to families, to enable a personalized yearly discussion on SUDEP with at least 80% of children with epilepsy.
Dr Eleanor Yule, Paediatric neurodisability trainee, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
To improve and adapt the transition and information sharing process for the children and young people with epilepsy in Croydon by March 2022.
Ms Anne Makunde, Epilepsy Specialist Nurse, Croydon Health Service NHS Trust.
To offer transition as a staged approach equitably from 19% to 100% of our patients aged 14 years and over.
Ms Lucy Miller, Epilepsy Specialist Nurse, East Lancashire Hospital Trust.
Identify and implement a mental health screening tool for CYP with epilepsy to identify those at risk.
Ms Nichola Hodges, Epilepsy Specialist Nurse, Epsom and St Helier University NHS Trust.
Improving mental health pathway using signposting.
Dr Sharmila Manivanna Consultant Paediatrician, North-West Anglia Foundation Trust.
To strengthen mental health referral pathways and To develop a mental health support package for teenage patients.
Dr Katherine Hunter, Consultant Paediatrician, Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Obtain meaningful feedback on our service from 50% CYPF by March 2022.
Ms Joanne Edwards, Paediatric neurology specialist nurse, Barts Health NHS Trust
By March 2022, 70% of patients aged 11-19 years will have digital feedback forms offered in Clinics (Consultant and Nurse led) and on acute Paediatric ward.
Dr Suhail Habib, Consultant Paediatrician, Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust.
Establish a standardised first year of care pathway for patients with epilepsy diagnosis (sub-projects include the areas of Transition, Mental health, reducing waiting times for first referral).
Dr Fraser Scott, Consultant Paediatrician, West Yorkshire & Harrogate Health and Care Partnership – Integrated Care Structure (ICS) team.
Implementing integrated pathway for children and young people admitted to hospital.
Dr Sreenivasa Tekki-Rao, Consultant Paediatrician, Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Poster presentations
EQIP Event poster presentations and programme of events
EQIP programme of events on the day (179.8KB pdf) Reducing waiting times for first seizure referrals - Airedale NHS Trust, ICS team (388.2KB pdf) Improving Patient and family engagement - Barts Health NHS Trust (214.0KB pdf) Establishing a transition service -Bradford teaching hospital, ICS team (380.9KB pdf) Improving Patient and family engagement - Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust (680.7KB pdf) Mental health pathways - Epsom and St Helier University NHS Trust (569.6KB pdf) Reducing waiting times for follow up patients - Leeds teaching hospitals Trust, ICS team (245.6KB pdf) Reducing waiting times for first seizure referrals - North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust (386.2KB pdf) Reducing waiting times for first seizure referrals - Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust, ICS team (447.2KB pdf) Digitalisation of the RCPCH Epilepsy passport - University of Morecambe Bay Trust (808.4KB pdf) SUDEP Risk - Oxford University NHS Trust (372.0KB pdf) Improving CYP wellbeing - Warrington & Halton Teaching hospital Trust (1.6MB pdf) Improving the transition process for CYP - Croydon (492.6KB pdf)