Botswana 2008
Practice Audit

The second visit to Botswana took place in November 2008. The benchmarking visit combines an assessment and practical training in the operating theatres as well as some education sessions, held in the hospitals.

Rosie Preston, one of Molnlycke Award winners 2008, travelled with Kate Woodhead, starting their African experience by a short visit to Nairobi. A presentation was given at the National Nurses Association of Kenya, Theatre Chapter Conference held at the School of Monetary Studies. Safe Surgery Saves Lives was the topic which Kate spoke about, having been involved in the development of the surgical checklist with WHO for the World Alliance for Patient Safety. As a partnering organisation, FoAN is assisting to disseminate the education and information supplied by WHO, wherever possible in Africa, as part of the global roll out of the patient safety sensitisation.

Rosie with Nurses in Kasane Operating Theatres Once in Gaborone, once again we were kindly hosted by the Nurses Association of Botswana (NAB), and visits made to the main Referral Hospital in the capital. Several hours were spent in the Operating Theatres of the Princess Marina Hospital, and feedback given to the Theatre Manager. A teaching session was held at NAB during the afternoon with some of the delegates from the year before.

We travelled on to Francistown, some 500 ks north of the capital, to the second Referral Hospital. A Theatre visit was undertaken and direct feedback given to the Theatre Manager. The following morning we gave a teaching session to 25 nurses from the hospital. Safe Surgery Saves Lives was again delivered to the broad audience of mainly surgical and obstetric nurses from the hospital. Change was the second topic, and lead to some lively discussion. Feedback was given to the Hospital Matron.

A fortuitous meeting with the Deputy Matron introduced us to the next Chief Nurse of Botswana! As FoAN works closely with the Ministry, this was very helpful and useful connections were able to be made.

A further 500 ks north, we arrived in Kasane to visit the District Hospital. A very different type of hospital, with major surgeries being sent south to Francistown. However, we visited the main departments and wards of the hospital and spent the majority of time in the Operating Theatres. An education session was held during the late morning as there was an operating theatre list scheduled for the afternoon. Many nurses from the hospital attended including the Matron. The operating list started late, but we were able to review practice as the list progressed. This was Rosieï¿½s first visit to Africa and as an introduction to how Operating Theatres work in Africa, was fairly "hands-on". Many thanks to her for her company, assistance and support.