Barnsley District General Hospital NHS Trust

Name of Contact: Jeff Bailey
Phone: 01226 730000 Ex 2096 Bleep 242
E-mail: jeff.bailey@bdgh-tr.trent.nhs.uk

Description of Trust

The Trust serves a population of 240,000. Services offered to the public include Medical, Surgical and Womens and Childrens specialties.

There are 771 (690.80wte) Nurses and Midwives, 290 (235.36wte) HCA's and Auxillaries

Infrastructure to support R&D

Include here any reference to R&D strategy and HEI links / joint appointments, career pathways, IT access, research support networks, evaluation / outcomes etc

The Trust has used part of its allocation of R&D funding to employ two research nurses to act in a generic role supporting multidisciplinary research activity in the Trust. The Trust has also built up close links with the University of Sheffield through the Trent Institute for Health Services Research (TIHSR). These nurses have therefore been able to be supported by more experienced researchers from Sheffield University seconded to the Trust part-time through the TIHSR. After three years this arrangement is being formalized through a joint appointment between the Trust and the TIHSR, who will continue to support the research nurses.

The research nurses have gained confidence in research and IT skills, have undertaken Masters degrees, and have enabled the Trust to increase its research output. The availability of nurses within the Trust with research skills has also been enhanced by secondment to various small projects (see below), some of which have also been enabled by Trust R&D funding.

Examples of clinically based research and development projects / activity that have made a difference to patients experience / outcomes

Include here for example projects, conferences etc.

Barriers to using research in nursing project. As part of the strategy to promote clinical nursing research, a project was devised to assess barriers to using research in nursing at BDGH, and to measure research skills in nurses. The project was conducted by a clinical nurse, seconded part-time, funded by the Trust R&D department, and supported by researchers from Sheffield University. Outputs include increased skills and confidence for the nurse researcher, a possible publication, and evidence on which to base subsequent nursing research development work.
Evaluation of the heart manual for cardiac rehabilitation. This project was funded by the local Health Action Zone, to promote better access to cardiac rehabilitation. A health visitor was seconded to the project full time for ten months, and completed the project under supervision of a researcher from Sheffield University. Acting on the results, cardiac rehabilitation policy is being reviewed and the Heart manual introduced for all AMI patients. The health visitor who carried out the research is undergoing further research training. The results have been disseminated at local and national conferences, and a publication is in preparation.
The FED Project. This project was funded by PPP Healthcare to promote a better nutritional understanding for elderly patients having suffered a medical incident. The interim results show a need for better nutrition for the elderly. This long running project has formed an increased awareness of research among clinical nurses because of recruitment practices on all medical wards and departments
SURUSS. This nurse led project has now completed and has led to a nationally used series of methods for determining ante-natal Downs Syndrome. The results have been presented nationally and internationally.
Corneal Donation. This small study has led to a nurse practitioner identifying a potential for retrieving corneas and has since become the Trusts corneal retrieval nurse. This study was part of the New Researcher Training Programme which the Trust joined as part of a Trent Institute Initaitive
Domestic Violence against Pregnant Women. This project was nurse led, initiated within this Trust and has led to an increased awareness and highlighted a need for action to be taken in this problem area.