Leadership through action learning: a bottom-up approach to ‘best practice’ in ‘infection prevention and control’ in a UK NHS trust

Abstract

This article reports on the outcomes of an action learning leadership intervention in a National Health Service (NHS) acute trust in partnership with a UK business school. This contribution provides an empirical example of the potential benefits of non-hierarchical leadership. Over a three-year period, 45 nurses took part in an initiative designed to reduce the number of health care associated infections (HCAI) in a large NHS acute trust. By 2010, serious reportable infections were reduced by around 300, providing an efficiency benefit in the region of £3 million and improved patient safety. The turnaround is significant, and although not exclusively attributable to this initiative, the trust is convinced that the intervention has been pivotal.

Keywords:

• Action learning
• infection prevention and control
• leadership
• service improvement

Notes

* The QMP score is the audit tool used to measure the ward in relation to infection prevention and control risk.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jean Kellie

Jean Kellie is a lecturer in organizational behaviour and human resource management at Hull University Business School, UK.

Brian Milsom

Brian Milsom is Director of External Business at Hull University Business School, UK.

Eileen Henderson

Eileen Henderson is the assistant to the medical director in a British NHS trust.