Congratulations to the winners of the inaugural Sir John Crofton Prize for TB Nursing. The quality of the entries reflects the passion and commitment that we know to be at the heart of all TB nursing – qualities that should be celebrated. This is why TB Alert and the TB Action Group established the award, with sponsorship from Oxford Immunotec.
The winning entries demonstrate the very best of TB nursing: how nurses’ understanding of the needs of patients and communities can inspire innovation.
Winner
The Homerton Hospital TB Team, receiving their certificate from Amy McConville, Chair of the TB Action Group
Homerton Hospital TB Team: Housing homeless TB patients with no recourse to public funds
The Homerton Hospital TB Team serve the London Borough of Hackney, where almost a quarter of TB patients have a history of homelessness, prison or drug and alcohol misuse. Homerton’s TB Nurses often encounter TB among homeless migrants, who do not qualify for welfare support.
TB nurses may lose valuable time searching for homeless patients, even before they can address the complex needs that make TB care and control more difficult among this population. Understanding this context, the TB team worked together with colleagues in the NHS and local council, to evaluate the cost of hospital based care against the cost of providing accommodation for homeless patients during their TB treatment.
As a result, the London Borough of Hackney’s Homeless Persons’ Unit now houses homeless TB patients, who have no recourse to public funding, during the course of their treatment. This has increased treatment completion rates by 1.6% to 91.4%, in just one year, and freed up valuable time to spend on patient care.
Housing a homeless person for the duration of their TB treatment gives that individual the same chance to be cured as somebody that is already housed; prevents the spread of disease to other vulnerable people; and gives dignity to the patient. Sue Collinson, Homerton Hospital TB Team
Runner up
The Cardiff TB Team, receiving their certificate from Amy McConville, Chair of the TB Action Group
Cardiff TB Control Unit: Improving new entrant TB screening of university students
In Autumn 2012 the Cardiff TB Control Unit identified that already low uptake for latent TB screening among new university students was under threat from changes in port of arrival practices. This spurred them to work in partnership with local authority and university colleagues to take a new approach.
The university provided contact details for all registering students from high incidence countries. Initially, students were posted appointment letters with directions to the local hospital. Uptake remained low at just 25%.
In September 2013, appointments were based instead at the university. Email and text appointments were sent explaining the need for screening, that the university supported the programme, and to remind students to attend appointments. This led to a dramatic increase in attendance – up to 85%. As a result, 9% of tested students began treatment for latent TB and one student was diagnosed with active TB.
In 2014 the programme was embedded into the university’s welcome package for international students, including features in the International Student’s Guide and on the university’s web page and social media accounts. The TB team is now on track for uptake rates of 92%.
About the Sir John Crofton Prize for TB Nursing
The Sir John Crofton Prize for TB Nursing was established by TB Alert and the TB Action Group, and Supported by Oxford Immunotec, to identify and acknowledge exceptional TB nursing which demonstrates innovation and excellence. The prize celebrates outstanding individuals or teams who, through their advocacy and service initiatives, have shown exemplary care, dedication or leadership in clinical care, social support and public health.
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