An Ayrshire nurse specialist who treats patients with Parkinson’s disease has won an award for coming up with a new way of keeping tabs on his patients’ medication needs.
Nick Bryden, 50, who is specialist nurse at Biggart Hospital, in Prestwick, won an advanced project award from The Neurology Academy.
Nick’s work is titled ‘improving timely medication access for people with Parkinson’s in hospital through combined use of electronic records and education.’
And it wowed the judging panel at The Neurology Academy, who provide education opportunities for clinicians, specialist nurses and professions allied to medicine.
The organisation awarded him their Parkinson’s Advanced ‘MasterClass 42’ project accolade.
Essentially, Nick’s project resulted in a more ‘joined-up approach’ to Parkinson’s patients' medication needs.
Thanks to Nick and his colleagues, Biggart Hospital employs a vastly improved up-to-the-minute record of patient medication, ultimately helping to reduce the time taken by staff to establish a patient's daily medication needs.
It also helps to ensure patients get the best treatment tailored for them- at precisely the time they need it.
A spokesperson for The Neurology Academy said: “We’re delighted to announce that this year’s winner is Nick Bryden.
“Parkinson’s nurse specialist Nick wanted to improve the access to timely medication for people with Parkinson’s admitted to hospital and through research into the opportunities within electronic records, collaboration with senior pharmacists, and pilot education for non-specialist ward staff, has developed comprehensive reporting systems, more joined-up working between the Parkinson’s team and general wards, and improved understanding of Parkinson’s medication in his local hospital.”
Now it’s hoped that Nick’s project can be rolled out to other NHS health boards across the country- and further afield- helping thousands of Parkinson’s patients in the process.
Nick said: "It's not really about me; it's about working as a team and trying to help the patients as much as we can.
"This award is really for everyone here who is involved in the great work we are doing locally- as well as leading the way for the UK."
One person living with Parkinson's has already hailed Nick's new medication breakthrough.
Dr Jonny Acheson is an Emergency Medicine doctor living with Parkinson’s and working at University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust.
He said: "Parkinson's medications are time critical and must be given within 30 minutes of when they are due.
"When someone is in hospital, getting medications late or missing them altogether will increase symptoms, prolong their stay and decrease their chances of being discharged home.
“A 2019 Parkinson's UK Scotland report estimated that medication delays occurred 100,000 times a year in Scotland's Hospitals. It’s vital for the NHS and those living with the condition that we reduce that.
“The local system solution that Nick has implemented in Ayrshire and Arran is a brilliant example of collaborative working within an organisation.
"It identifies poor prescribing practices such as wrong medication, wrong formulation, incorrect dose or timings and even missed medications. This has driven change from the ground level and is something that he and his team should be very proud of.
“It’s so important that successes and examples of best practice like this are shared across health boards so that more hospitals can implement them. That’s central to the work that the Parkinson’s Excellence Network is doing. "
He added: "We hope that Nick's work will spark change across the whole of NHS Scotland, giving people with Parkinson's a chance that when they are admitted to hospital they are given an equal opportunity to recover and continue to live as well as they can with every single day.”
In December, Ayrshire Live told how big-hearted Nick once again, brought Festive cheer by fundraising for patients and staff - by making wooden Christmas trees.
Nick makes wooden Christmas trees which people can make a donation towards if they want to own one.
And his annual hobby helps coin in some cash to benefit the many people connected to the Ayrshire hospital.
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