A new Quality Improvement Academy for NHS Lanarkshire was announced during a highly successful and engaging afternoon that brought together colleagues committed to enhancing care.
The NHS Lanarkshire Quality Improvement Network Annual Celebration Event was held at University Hospital Hairmyres.
With 42 attendees, the event demonstrated strong interest and growing momentum for quality improvement (QI) across the organisation.
A key moment was an exciting update from Caroline Brown, Head of Improvement, who shared plans for the new QI Academy. This aims to build QI capability and capacity and support staff to develop improvement skills at all levels. Attendees were invited to contribute their ideas and feedback, and there was strong engagement in shaping how the academy will develop.
Another highlight was the poster walkround, featuring 23 projects that demonstrated innovation and impact across services. The event also included poster awards, recognising outstanding contributions.
The Quality Directorate Award was presented to Sharon Lindsay, Prescribing Support Pharmacist, for her work on improving clinical outcomes for patients prescribed oral semaglutide. The People’s Choice Award was scooped by Michelle Gardner, Charge Nurse, for her project on improving tissue donation referrals within the Adult Critical Care Unit.
The event also had a strong line-up of speakers, including: Dr John Harden, National Clinical Lead for Quality and Safety; Lynne Huckerby, Deputy Director of Acute Services; and Karon Cormack, Director of Quality. Their sessions provided valuable insights into both local and national perspectives on QI, sparking thoughtful discussion and reflection.
In addition, attendees heard from three staff speakers who presented their own improvement projects. These presentations highlighted practical, real-world examples of QI in action, demonstrating how teams are driving meaningful change and improving outcomes across services.
The momentum generated during the event will continue as the QI team builds on the feedback gathered. There is a clear commitment to ongoing engagement with the QI Network, ensuring that future developments, particularly the QI Academy, are co-designed with staff and aligned to improvement needs.
For further information, please contact LQA@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk.
