We are the PITSS

We are the PITSS —- Paediatric Imaging Tayside Study Sessions (PITSS)

This weeks AHP CYP Blog has been written by John Temple, Specialist Radiographer @NHSTayside and tells the story of the establishment of PITSS

Back in 2009 I attended an Association of Paediatric Radiographers (APR) Study Day where a presentation called Image Quality of NICU Radiography inspired me to look at how the quality of NICU imaging in Ninewells could be improved. An initial audit of image quality for April 2009 was thus carried out on chest x-rays in Ninewells NICU. Results showed scope for improvement. Following discussions with radiology and NICU staff, staff training was carried out in both departments to implement standardised radiographic techniques. The new system was implemented on 1^st May 2010 and follow-up monthly audits were carried out. Key improvements were seen in the audit results.

In late 2011 the Society of Radiographers (SoR) and the APR collaborated to form the Children’s Imaging Taskforce. In response to this PITTS was formed in December 2011 to improve paediatric standards in NHS Tayside. The first study evening (PITSS 1) in May 2012 focussed on Non-Accidental Injury (NAI) due to the seriousness of its implications and the fact that optimal radiographic imaging is one of the key determining factors in deciding innocence or guilt in such cases. Three speakers presented:

Sheila Cameron: Superintendent Radiographer, Aberdeen Sick Children’s Hospital (ASCH). NAI The Radiographer’s Perspective
Dr. Sanjay Pillai: Consultant Radiologist, NHS Tayside. NAI The Radiologist’s Perspective
May Duncan: Senior Play Specialist, NHS Tayside. Play Therapy and Distraction Techniques

The event was advertised across NHS Tayside and the organising team held regular meetings to monitor developments and to problem solve. On the night team members all worked together to run the event with 50 attending who provided positive feedback. In an effort to gain wider publicity we published details of our successful evening in:

Synergy News (the SoR magazine)
Spectra
NHS Tayside AHP magazine

PITSS 2 was held on 28^th August 2012. The theme was Paediatric Orthopaedic Radiography.

Speakers:

Margaret Taylor: Lead Sonographer, NHS Tayside. Paediatric Hip
Dr Andre Gatt: SPR Radiology, NHS Tayside. Paediatric Orthopaedic Image Interpretation
Mr Donald Campbell: Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon. Backs, Legs & Scalar Balls

The event was advertised across NHS Tayside and NHS Fife and Grampian and on the evening around 60 people attended including students. Attendees were given satisfaction questionnaires and feedback was good. Again, we publicised our event in the magazines previously mentioned.

PITSS 3 was held on 30^th April 2013. The theme was The Paediatric Chest.

This time we advertised the event nationally in Synergy News. Attendees this time came from Tayside, Fife, Grampian and Highland Health Boards, Robert Gordon University students and numbers increased to around 70 again with very positive feedback.

Speakers and subjects were as follows:

Dr Peter Fowlie: Consultant Paediatrician. The Paediatric Chest
Dr Gavin Main: Consultant Radiologist. Chest Image Interpretation
Nancy Adam: Specialist Radiographer, ASCH. Radiographic Techniques
Jude Hardwick: Formerly Superintendent Radiographer, GOSH. A Visit to the X-Ray Department, a Child’s Perspective

In May 2013 the PITSS team was nominated for the SoR Scottish Team of the Year award for 2013. We were all delighted to hear from the Chief Executive of the SoR in September that had won the award and then in October this was topped when we heard that we had also won the UK SoR team of the year!

Congratulations for our awards were received from many quarters and the team were invited to speak at the Scottish SoR AGM and Study Day in Edinburgh on 26^th October 2013.

The team travelled to the Houses of Parliament in London on 6^th November 2103 and were presented with their awards by Professor Lord Robert Winston.

On 26^th November the team were congratulated at a celebratory lunch in Ninewells Hospital hosted by Dr. Alan Cook, Medical Director of the Operational Unit and Dr Gavin Main, Clinical Head of Radiology.

The PITTS team were approached by the NHS Improving Quality – Delivery Team to participate in the upcoming NHS Change Day in March 2014.

28^th November saw a team member travel to the Southern General Hospital (SGH) in Glasgow to talk to radiographers there about organising study events. The SGH is undergoing a massive expansion and they wish to explore different ways of rapidly disseminating knowledge to radiographers.

One of our former team moved to Raigmore Hospital in the summer and has taken our teaching notes and PowerPoint presentation to improve quality of neonatal imaging at that centre at their request.

December 2013 saw contact from the SGH again. This time to ask for assistance with improving neonatal radiography at their hospital We have arranged for one of their staff to come to Ninewells to undergo the orientation programme that new staff here receive.

We have also been invited to speak at the upcoming “Improving Quality of Imaging of Children in Adult Hospitals” study day to be held at the University College of London on 3^rd June 2014 organised by the SoR through the Children’s Imaging Taskforce group