For the second year running the Acute Pain Team at the Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust has won an NHS award for teaching excellence.

The award was established in 2003 by The Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College giving recognition to the enormous contribution made by NHS staff who are responsible for delivering 70-80% of the undergraduate medical courses in acute hospitals.  It is open to the whole of the National Health Service. 

In 2007 Lead Clinician for acute pain at the Trust, Dr Jonathan Cooper received the award on behalf of the Trust’s Acute Pain Service. This year the  ‘Award for Teaching Excellence for NHS Teachers’  has been made to Sharon Kitcatt, Consultant Nurse for the Acute Pain Service, based in the Anaesthetic Department at the Trust.  The acute pain service team are responsible for ensuring that patients who had undergone surgery, or who have other acute pain problems, are offered the best possible pain relief and that the staff caring for them are trained to care for them appropriately. 

On average the team visit 20-25 inpatients a day and over the past year the team have supported staff across the Trust in caring for 400 patients with epidurals and 750 patients with Patient Controlled Analgesia. 

Sharon, who qualified as a nurse at The Westminster Hospital in 1986, is as committed to helping patients understand their pain control as she is to passing on her expertise to medical students. 

She said: “I am thrilled to get this award this year and will be receiving it on behalf of the Acute Pain Service team as we all contribute to the education that we provide for the medical students.  It is very special for us to get the award for the second consecutive year.                                                             

“We believe that our ward rounds provide a positive learning experience that gives the students good insight into acute pain management for a variety of patient groups, whilst showing them how the service works alongside other teams within the Trust. We also hope that our approach to patient care encourages the students to consider other aspects of the patient’s journey, and helps them to appreciate the importance of good communication with patients.”

Said Dr Peter Wilkinson, Consultant Cardiologist, Director of Clinical Studies, Imperial College School of Medicine and Sub-Dean, St George’s Hospital Medical School: “The Trust makes an important contribution to undergraduate medical education by teaching medical students from St George’s Hospital and Imperial College.  In the busy period the students are in numerous departments including medicine, paediatrics, surgery and A&E.  We rely on the goodwill of all of the clinical staff in providing education to these students and are delighted to acknowledge the enthusiastic teaching provided by Sharon and the Pain Team.”

At various times throughout the year the Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust has 355 medical students on placements.  Among those who this year recommended Sharon Kitcatt for her award were Imperial College third year students MeretArsanious and Natalie Nobar.

Said Meret: “A hospital ward can be an overwhelming place to find oneself in: doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, pharmacists, porters and cleaners - and that’s not even including all the patients!  In this busy and diverse setting it is rare top find someone like Sharon who takes time to look after students and ensure that they are incorporated as part of the team.”

Added Natalie: “During my ten week surgical placement I was able to attend the Acute Pain Team ward round with Consultant Nurse Sharon Kitcatt.  I found this to be an extremely valuable experience, since I had never really considered pain relief in its own right, only as part of management of a specific condition.  I would recommend that all “firms” spend some time with the Acute Pain Team, if it is feasible, since it is obvious that good pain management makes a huge difference to the quality of patient care.”