Publish date: 24 May 2023

The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN), part of UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, has been reaccredited under the prestigious Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA) demonstrating the hospital anaesthetists’ commitment to patient safety and excellence of care.

From left, Emma Heritage, matron for theatres and critical care; Mei Chan, assistant general manager for theatres, anaesthetics and critical care; Ib Adedugbe, consultant anaesthetist and ACSA lead; Michelle Leemans, preoperative assessment lead; Kath Hunt, clinical director for theatres and anaesthetics; Gordon Bird, deputy clinical lead for neurocritical care; Alex Allsop, general manager for theatres, anaesthetics and critical care; and Chris Turner, divisional clinical director.
From left, Emma Heritage, matron for theatres and critical care; Mei Chan, assistant general manager for theatres, anaesthetics and critical care; Ib Adedugbe, consultant anaesthetist and ACSA lead; Michelle Leemans, preoperative assessment lead; Kath Hunt, clinical director for theatres and anaesthetics; Gordon Bird, deputy clinical lead for neurocritical care; Alex Allsop, general manager for theatres, anaesthetics and critical care; and Chris Turner, divisional clinical director.

ACSA is the RCoA’s peer-reviewed scheme that promotes quality improvement and the highest standards of anaesthetic service. To receive accreditation, departments are expected to demonstrate high standards in areas such as patient experience, patient safety and clinical leadership.

ACSA lead reviewer, Dr Rahul Bajekal said:

“Congratulations to the department of anaesthesia at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery on a well-deserved ACSA reaccreditation. A well led and supportive team providing high quality care. There is a strong emphasis on patient safety and high achievement across all ACSA domains. It quite clearly is a department that doesn’t rest on its laurels but continues to proactively develop and progress.”

Dr Ib Adedugbe, consultant anaesthetist at the NHNN, said:

“The ACSA process has been an opportunity for the department to review our processes, strengthen our governance structures, and to build a learning culture that ultimately has improved our patient care and outcomes. It has been a long process for the reaccreditation due to covid restrictions to on-site visits, but it has been worth it for the department and for our patients.”

Professor William Harrop-Griffiths representing the Royal College of Anaesthetists at the plaque presentation, said:

“I would like to offer my personal congratulations to the entire anaesthetic department on achieving ACSA accreditation. It is very impressive to see the commitment and approach of the whole department to sustaining their standards. They have demonstrated their ability and passion for providing the best possible care for their patients.

“Patient safety is at the heart of what we do as a Medical Royal College. The quality improvement demonstrated during the accreditation process has helped the department manage the immense tasks presented to them by COVID-19 and the resumption of normal services.

“It was impressive to see the innovative practices taking place at the hospital, and the excellent commitment from all staff during the process. As well as meeting the standards, the department demonstrated many areas of excellent advanced practice that have now been highlighted for sharing through the ACSA network.”