How digitalisation within Portering has increased Radiology throughput

Ever since the digitalisation of their portering system, Northampton General Hospital’s Radiology Department has seen remarkable improvements with patient throughput. Their move to digitalisation encourages better communication between the Portering and Radiology team, leading to closer collaboration between departments and overall better patient care.

Paul Barritt, Security & Portering Manager said: “It’s not just a case of ‘This is the product, there you go – just try your best and apply it to what you’ve got’ - it really can be adjusted to how your Trust is, in terms of the layout, the specialities that you’ve got, it’s a really great system that we enjoy using”, adding: “The figures that we have around are about 10-12% increase in patient flow through the portering department’s patient transfers.”

“The biggest impact MyPorter has had on Northampton General Hospital is on the Radiology Department. We’re moving a lot more patients through CTs, MRIs” Chris Hurved, Portering Co-Ordinator added.

Joshua Combs, Deputy Superintendent Radiographer said: “after three weeks, we had an 8.6% increase in throughput throughout X-rays.”

To talk to a member of the team about arranging a visit to Northampton General Hospital, please email myporter@globalviewsystems.co.uk

For more information about MyPorter, please visit www.myporterlogistics.com

Tyneside and Wearside united by national award, as MyPorter Awards relaunched.

The MyPorter Awards are now live and open for nominations once again – and this year were relaunched in special circumstances with the meeting of two people whose connection to one award in particular made for an emotional afternoon. The black and white of Newcastle and the red and white of Sunderland are often seen as great rivals, with usually no love lost between the two – that is until a joyous meeting between two souls with common interests, brought together by a national award and the loss of their beloved spouses. When Keith Bellfield of Sunderland Royal Hospital was nominated for the ‘Dennis Southern Award – For Endeavour’ at the last annual MyPorter Awards, a national awards celebrating the best of the best in NHS Portering Services, judges could not help but be extremely impressed. Keith showed everything that a worthy winner should and more: Sadly, Keith’s wife Angela (who also worked at Sunderland Royal Hospital) passed away from lung cancer, leaving him to have to make the difficult decision between keeping his much-loved portering job which he has been in for 35 years, and the time needed to care for his son Christopher, who has special needs. The award which Keith won is named after Dennis Southern – a well-known and well-loved porter at Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, who sadly lost his battle with a rare cancer in 2021, just two weeks before he was nominated for the MyPorter Award 2020/21. He was nominated due to the fantastic work he did there as a porter, always putting the patient first despite his own personal battles with illness. That is when judges chose to honour Dennis by creating a new award category in his name for the 2021/22 event. An awards ceremony took place in February 2022 in central London, but unfortunately neither Keith or Dennis Southern’s widow Jan could make the event, so GV Healthcare who run the MyPorter Awards decided to arrange a private event with special lunch for the pair and their sons; Barry accompanying Jan, and Christopher accompanying Keith. This allowed Jan Southern the opportunity to meet the man who is the first ever winner of the award named in her late husband’s honour; an emotional heart-warming encounter which fetched moving moments that brought a tear to Jan’s eye. Jan said: “It was really nice to meet Keith – having heard why he was nominated and about the personal loss he has also suffered, I believe he is a very worthy winner of an award named in my late-husband’s honour. Keith is very deserving of this award and I’m proud to have been part of this occasion. It’s been a lovely day and has felt really special, like two old friends meeting and chatting over mutual experiences we share”. Matt Wright, CEO at GV Healthcare said: “We were sad that neither Jan or Keith could make the MyPorter Awards ceremony, but were delighted to be able to unite Tyneside and Wearside with a nice meal at a private event – we hope it felt as special to them as they deserve. Our HQ is based in Hull and with us being based in a city that is also split between the black and whites and the red and whites too (albeit with a different shaped ball), we know rivalry can be passionate, but the love for portering, the NHS and their loved ones shone through – sometimes sporting discord is put into perspective and events like this show life is precious and moments like this matter”.

Keith’s nomination for the award from his management praised him by saying they know many who would have chosen to give up the role and take on full-time caring responsibilities, but Keith chose to ask to take on a new role, switching to being a waste porter, allowing him the flexibility to remain in a role within the portering service, while also giving him the necessary time to look after Christopher. Although it was a different role and working with a different group of colleagues, Keith quickly adapted and built up a huge knowledge of waste regulations and the segregation demands of the health sector. Keith also looked at the processes in the department with a fresh pair of eyes and was integral in suggesting improvement to the ways of working, benefitting both the service and the waste team. Keith was also praised for taking others under his wing and mentoring them – someone who goes about his job, never complaining, always greeting co-workers, patients and staff with a smile. One of the friendliest people his colleagues know, he’s known as a walking encyclopedia of portering knowledge, passing on his wisdom, and often seen assisting others with their tasks alongside his own. Back in winter he was even spotted by staff out in a snowy blizzard, helping a contractor load waste bins onto a lorry to ensure the driver wasn’t delayed by the conditions. Keith’s efforts not only benefit the entire department, but they also set an example and inspire his co-workers to stay proactive. Despite the overwhelming amount of work that everyone has had to do and the impact of the ongoing pandemic and Keith’s personal circumstances, he consistently finds ways to help his co-workers and other departments. His willingness to assist others and his commitment to educating and supporting new staff is unequalled. Keith’s Manager Mark Turner said: “I have worked with Keith for over 22 years from when I first joined the NHS as a Porter. From day one Keith was friendly and welcoming and always on hand to answer any questions I had about my new role. With him having a vast knowledge of the Portering role I was able to learn from him some of the more technical tasks of the role such as the handling and changing of medical gasses and the distribution of pharmacy. As my career progressed and I became Keith's Supervisor and eventually his manager, he couldn't have been more encouraging and supportive to me in my new roles. Keith is an outstanding employee and a credit to my team and the organisation" If you know somebody within your hospital portering teams who you think reminds you of Keith, the nominations are now open for The Dennis Southern – Lifetime Achievement Award - For Endeavour, along with the five other categories, including the MyPorter Porter of the Year Award and the Portering Team of The Year award. Know someone deserving of this highest recognition? You can nominate now at: https://www.myporterlogistics.com/

The National MyPorter Awards - T&Cs

Winner must work within a portering team within healthcare. Winner must be currently employed by a healthcare body (such as the NHS). Winner may have worked within a portering team over the past year, and still be employed within the NHS (or equivalent body) within a different role or department. Winner may be part of current portering bank staff. Winner must be over 18 years of age. Winner will be chosen in-house by judges at Global View/GV Healthcare/MyPorter. Competition entry is allowed and open between September 18th 2023 and January 12th 2024. Shortlist for each award will be announced on January 2024. Winners will be announced at a live ceremony in February 2024.

Winner will receive a physical award/trophy. Risk-pending (i.e. in the event of a national emergency), The National MyPorter Awards may come in either digital or physical form, the aim is to host an award ceremony in London in February. If you are shortlisted for an award, you will be gifted a ticket to attend the MyPorter Awards ceremony in central London, subject to availability. The winner will be asked to partake in a small-scale photo opportunity and may be asked to contribute and/or take part in other media activities and coverage of the awards. The details of the entry (including name and email address of nominee and nominator) may be shared internally within Global View/GV Healthcare for purposes relating to the competition - e.g. judging of competition, contact regarding submission, etc. One nominee per entry only, unless qualifying reasoning for multiples e.g. two people did the thing which you wish to nominate for or you are nominating a team for the team award. One entry per nominee is sufficient - multiple submissions for the same nominee aren't necessary. All additional nominations will be disallowed. Global View/GV Healthcare are not liable for unclaimed prizes - prize winner has 3 months from close date of awards to claim their prize. In the event of any dispute concerning the correctness or acceptability of any award, the decision of Global View/GV Healthcare shall be final. If attending a live MyPorter Awards event, all images and videos from the event are the property of Global View/GV Healthcare and may be used in the public domain in places such as (but not limited to) publications, digital publications, websites, social media & other forms of media - if you wish for your image not to be used, you must inform the company of this. There is no cost to enter the MyPorter Awards. No persons directly related to a Global View/GV Healthcare employee may win the award or enter the awards. The reason for the nomination, including name of person nominating and nominee may be used in the public domain in places such as (but not limited to) publications, digital publications, websites, social media & other forms of media. All shortlisted entries will be vetted/check and their comms teams will be contacted - should this process highlight any wrongdoings of the individual, Global View/GV Healthcare reserve the right to cancel the nomination. The shortlisted persons comms team will also have final say on the participation of the nominee.

All awards submissions must come from within your organisation or related company to your organisation.