Dr. James Somauroo

An audit aiming to update the treatment of hypertension in patients at a GP practice.
I was consulted for the data collection and analysis phases and recommended changes to treatment for over 50 patients.

A re-audit looking at the quality and complications associated with long line insertion in neonates
New Guidelines implemented

'Suspected sepsis' is one of the most commonly made diagnoses on any neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Most neonates are discharged after 48 hours following negative blood culture results, thus inefficient analyses of these samples leads to delays in discharge. A baseline study demonstrated that, on average, discharge was delayed by four hours per neonate, with a range of up to 21 hours, with the longest delays being incurred as samples were not being analysed when they were received by the… Show more

'Suspected sepsis' is one of the most commonly made diagnoses on any neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Most neonates are discharged after 48 hours following negative blood culture results, thus inefficient analyses of these samples leads to delays in discharge. A baseline study demonstrated that, on average, discharge was delayed by four hours per neonate, with a range of up to 21 hours, with the longest delays being incurred as samples were not being analysed when they were received by the microbiology department out of hours. Furthermore, problems were due to increase, as the microbiology department was imminently moving to another hospital. In the short term, samples were couriered to another microbiology department, which incubates them overnight. The long-term solution is for the department to purchase their own in-house analyser, for which a business case was developed, presented, and agreed to by the lead neonatal consultant with a projected annual saving of £88,140. Show less

All patients must be discharged from hospital with a summary of the care they have received whilst in hospital. This information is then fed back to their GP for continuation of care.

This project saw an improvement in the hospital's computer system in order to achieve better compliance with the guideline of sending a discharge summary within 24 hours. Meetings were held with members of the faculties of medicine, pharmacy, IT, junior and senior hospital doctors, as well as GPs to… Show more

All patients must be discharged from hospital with a summary of the care they have received whilst in hospital. This information is then fed back to their GP for continuation of care.

This project saw an improvement in the hospital's computer system in order to achieve better compliance with the guideline of sending a discharge summary within 24 hours. Meetings were held with members of the faculties of medicine, pharmacy, IT, junior and senior hospital doctors, as well as GPs to determine a solution that allowed the transfer of appropriate information, efficiently.

As a result of this project, 24 hour compliance was reached from backlogs of up to 2 months, via a new computer programme and improved communication links between GPs and junior doctors. Show less

An audit looking at information given to patients on discharge from A&E and its usefulness
A new trust-wide system implemented
Contributed towards an “excellent” accreditation from the Royal College of Psychiatrists

An audit looking at the diagnosis and treatment of patients with heart failure at a GP practice in Derbyshire. Resulted in numerous regimes updated and an educational seminar held for GPs in the practice