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UHCW becomes first university hospital in the UK to be awarded Pathway to Excellence® designation

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust is incredibly proud to become the first university hospital in the UK to be awarded the internationally acclaimed Pathway to Excellence® designation.

Accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the Pathway to Excellence® programme is recognised by organisations globally for nursing and midwifery excellence.

By receiving Pathway designation, UHCW has demonstrated how our nursing and midwifery staff have a direct role in influencing and enhancing both policy and practice for the benefit of their patients, as well as promoting a healthy work environment where staff feel empowered and valued at the Trust’s two hospitals:  University Hospital, Coventry and the Hospital of St Cross, Rugby, as well as their satellite centres across the West Midlands.

To qualify for designation, organisations must demonstrate how they embody six standards designed to empower nurses and midwives, and create a positive working environment where they are supported to excel in their careers.

The six standards organisations must demonstrate are:

Shared decision-making: UHCW has an established shared governance structure as the foundation for involving direct care nurses in decision-making.

Leadership: Leadership fosters the foundation of collaboration among staff and supports a shared governance environment.

Safety: UHCW protects the safety and wellbeing of nurses, staff, and patients through safety policies and processes.

Quality: We have Trust-wide quality initiatives which are evidence-based, focused on improving patient outcomes, developed through interprofessional collaboration, and implemented based on internal and external benchmarking.

Wellbeing: Our staff have the opportunity to develop a balance between work and personal life. Achievements for community service, patient advocacy, and contributions to improving population health are encouraged, supported, and recognised by our organisation.

Professional development: We recognise the importance of staff orientation, collaboration, and professional development in the delivery of safe and effective patient care.

UHCW’s designation as an internationally recognised Pathway to Excellence® organisation demonstrates they’re leading the way in enhancing quality of care, patient and staff safety, and the future of healthcare delivery.        

Tracey Brigstock, Chief Nursing Officer at UHCW, said: “I am thrilled to have received Pathway to Excellence® designation at UHCW, which is an amazing achievement for everyone at the Trust.

“We began our Pathway to Excellence® journey in 2019, when we were selected as one of 14 organisations by the Chief Nursing Officer for England, Ruth May, to pioneer this work as part of her vision for the profession playing a critical role in influencing the national healthcare model for the 21st century. We have continued to work towards achieving this goal whilst supporting our patients, staff and wider community through the pandemic.

“Our nurses and midwives understand that better never stops, and that achieving Pathway to Excellence® designation recognises and rewards our teams for the incredible work that they do every day to improve patient outcomes and create a positive working environment.

“I would like to personally thank every single member of staff who has supported and engaged with our journey to achieving Pathway to Excellence® designation. This is a huge milestone for us as we continue to go from strength to strength on our journey of improvement.”


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