ideas.uk is producing a self-assessment package to help organisations understand the key issues about developing ideas programmes.

The scheme is promoted through:

A scheme Panel meets quarterly and reviews all suggestions. They can make awards up to £250 to an individual for an implemented idea, and where an idea cannot be implemented they can make an encouragement award of £25, to acknowledge an innovative idea.

The original scheme was open to members of staff only and was based on the criteria used in Charter Mark assessment, namely setting standards, choice and consultation, courtesy and helpfulness... and so on. For the duration of the Charter Mark scheme, every issue of the staff magazine, Noticeboard, invited staff to suggest good ideas for improving the quality of service or increasing efficiency. Each issue suggested a theme in line with the Charter Mark criteria, although this was only used as a guide: any suggestions were welcome at any time. An attractive first prize (one week’s working visit to a hospital in Canada) was offered along with modest runner-up prizes. In addition, winners were publicised in the staff newsletter and local press.

The first scheme drew a large number of entries. The winner was a nursing sister who suggested issuing pre-paid return forms with clinic appointment letters. This made it easy for patients to confirm the appointment, request an alternative time or cancel. The form was circulated among staff and patients in draft form to make sure that it was clear and simple to use. When put in use, the pre-paid forms helped reduce the number of missed appointments, which cost over £80 each in wasted staff time. This also helps reduce waiting lists, as unnecessary appointments are more effectively ‘weeded-out’ of the system.

The suggestion scheme was extended and repeated in 1996. This time it not only included staff members but patients and visitors too. Again it drew a good response from many quarters. Overall winner was a consultant radiologist who suggested a new initiative on healthy eating, including increased choice of meals and better information. She told Noticeboard: ‘Facilities for healthy eating within the hospital have certainly improved and we now have a good range of salads, fruits and so on available, particularly in the restaurant. But I still feel we can do more, particularly if we are to set a good example for patients. I’d like to see more high-fibre dishes and less fat, in addition to which we could display more healthy eating information.’