Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) have been shortlisted for a Nursing Times’ award under Care of Older People Category.
Staff at the Trust have been working hard over the last few years to improve the hospital experience for older and frail patients. This means going above and beyond ‘normal’ ward care, instead putting an emphasis on the individual, tailoring treatment to their needs and placing an emphasis on preventing injuries that may occur within hospital, such as falls.
Falls are common in hospital, affecting all ages. They can lead to serious injury such as fractures, brain injuries and in severe circumstances can even result in death. More commonly, falls result in ‘hidden’ harms such as a longer stay in hospital, loss of confidence and independence and an increased need for care at home or even residential care.
Although it’s impossible to completely prevent all falls in hospital, since 2014 the Trust has seen a reduction of over 20 per cent, with a further 76 per cent reduction in these incidents resulting in serious harm.
A major factor in this improvement has been the introduction of the Enhanced Care Team last year. This team of specially trained staff provide individualised care to the most vulnerable patients, usually those with dementia or confusion. Going beyond usual ward care, people under the supervision of the team receive individualised support to improve their hospital experience and help keep them free from harm.
To compliment this, DBTH has also seen a review of training across all staff groups, with an emphasis on raising the awareness of the importance of person centred care. To aid in this work, new documentation has been introduced which helps the team supervise those being cared for, with guidance of when to escalate treatment as well as signalling when an individual may be in danger of further injury.
The Trust is also actively promoting campaigns such as #endPJparalysis, a simple yet effective message which encourages and supports patients to get up and out of bed, into their clothes, from the beginning of their hospital stay as well as John’s Campaign, an initiative which removes restrictive visiting hours for carers and actively promotes their involvement in treatment and care.
Cindy Storer, Head of Nursing and Quality for Musculoskeletal and Frailty at the Trust, said: “It’s fantastic to be nominated for this award and I want to say a huge thank you to our team who have made these improvements possible. From our doctors and nurses to health care and service assistants, everyone at the Trust recognises the importance of tailoring care to our elderly patients, making their hospital experience better and their recovery faster.”
The winners of the 2017 Nursing Times Awards will be announced at the prestigious ceremony on 2 November at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.