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 In March, two of our authorised representatives Helen Rowe and Maureen Stoneman carried out an 'enter and view' visit to Huntsman 6 ward at the Northern General Hospital (NGH). This is a very busy pre- and post-operative ward that deals predominantly with older people. We were interested in observing what happens there for LINk’s response to this year’s Quality Account from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals (STH). We have now had the formal response to our findings and STH has made a number of significant ‘observations’.
Finding: We said that the assisted bathroom was not fit for purpose as it had no hoist.
Response: STH has now ordered a hoist.
Finding: The small day room was being used for discussions with relatives as well as for staff handovers at the end of shifts etc.
Response: The temporary matron’s office has been cleared and made into a quiet room specifically for interviews with relatives and comfortable seating has been ordered. Also, by September, the day room will be converted into a staff resource room equipped with information boards.
Finding: We recommended they look at how patients are assisted to eat and drink.
Response: STH has included a number of measures to help this including using red alert cards so that staff know which patients need help and maximising the number of staff available at mealtimes.
Finding: Related to the point above, relatives were unaware that they could visit at mealtimes to assist their relatives to eat
Response: They have agreed to produce new information and implement a communication strategy to ensure that relatives and visitors are made aware that they can help with this.
Finding: We observed that patient information needed to include more about the person as well as their condition, for example their likes and dislikes and ability to feed themselves.
Response:. By September they will incorporate the ‘This is me’ booklet developed by Royal College of Nursing and Alzheimer’s Society into the admission process.
Finding: We noticed that there was low staff awareness of the dignity campaign.
Response: An information board is being created in the staff room to highlight this and what it means and STH will distribute a leaflet on the subject from the British Geriatric Society. |