5 November 2014 Each month we will update you on the quality actions that have been progressed across the organisation.

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1 5 November 2014 Each month we will update you on the quality actions that have been progressed across the organisation. Discharge planning improvements A new discharge planning form is now being used on AMU, SAU and CCU, which prompts staff to start planning a patient s discharge as soon as they are admitted to hospital. The form identifies whether patients may have routine or more complex discharge arrangements, allowing the team to agree, prepare and focus on a clear plan for that patient when they no longer need to be treated in hospital. Paula Shobbrook, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, says: We are committed to providing excellent care for every patient, every day, everywhere and our dedicated staff are here to care for patients and then support them to leave hospital to recover. It is essential that we discharge patients when they are medically fit to ensure we have enough beds for those requiring operations and those who come to us through our Emergency Department to prevent them from having long, uncomfortable waits. Philippa Morrison, AMU Discharge

2 Coordinator, has been using the form and says: Preparing for discharge can take time as we need to ensure that each individual is leaving the hospital with the right care in place. The new form is much shorter and easier to use, so this means we can spend more time putting the right plans in place for each of our patients. Kelly Spaven, Ambulatory Matron, adds: It also means that when the patient is ready to leave the hospital there is less likelihood of any errors or delays. By getting it right the first time, it helps us reduce our patients length of stay with us and avoid unnecessary readmission. > Assessing needs > Patient Safety > Assessing needs > Patient Safety Diaries for critically unwell patients Our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has re-introduced diaries for longer stay patients who often remember little of their stay while sedated and ventilated. The diary is written by staff and family, giving a day-to-day account of ongoing care, any visitors and other information the patient may find useful in the future. Deputy Sister, Rachael Hopkins, says: Our patients often find it hard to accept how ill they ve been. The diary is a simple way of helping them come to terms with what they have been through and can also help reduce symptoms such as depression, nightmares and post traumatic stress disorder. The diary is given to the patient once they are settled onto the ward by the Follow Up Team, unless requested by the family while in ICU. It can then be taken with them when they go home. We really urge wards that if you do find a diary, please ensure it stays with the patient and is not filed in the notes. The patient needs to keep

3 the diary for future reference. If the patient has been discharged, then please return it to the Follow up Team in ICU, adds Rachael. Once discharged to the wards, the Follow Up Team will aim to visit those patients with diaries to give them the chance to talk about their stay in ICU and discuss any concerns, fears and questions they may have. If there are patients discharged from critical care that you feel would benefit from a visit from the Follow Up Team, or for any other queries regarding the diaries, please contact ICU on ext. 4055/ Integrated respiratory team ensures consistent, excellent care Our REDS team has now joined Poole and Dorchester respiratory services to become the Dorset Adult Integrated Respiratory Service known as DAIRS. The new service has been designed by Dorset respiratory consultants to support patients with moderate to severe chronic respiratory conditions, ensuring that wherever they are living in Dorset, they are receiving the same excellent care from an expert multidisciplinary team. Our DAIRS team at Bournemouth will be led by Susie Barratt under the clinical leadership of Dr Diane Laws. Dr Laws says: After two years of planning and collaborative work, we are delighted that Dorset CCG has commissioned a pan-dorset service of integrated care for patients with chronic respiratory diseases. The team will continue to develop over the next few years and will see best practice available to all patients with chronic respiratory conditions wherever they live in Dorset.

4 The new service will provide: education for GPs and practice nurses. rapid access to specialist advice via telephone and in community clinics to patients and practitioners specialist nurses working in the community to support patients at high risk urgent direct access for patients to specialist service during times of crisis or exacerbation. specialist advice, formal assessment and ongoing support with oxygen support to healthcare practitioners allowing referral of patients to multidisciplinary respiratory team The way in which colleagues use the service at Bournemouth has not changed. You can still contact the service on ext 6122 or bleep Patients empowered to stay well-nourished and hydrated A new food and drink leaflet has been produced by our Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Team to inform patients of how important it is to keep hydrated and eat well during their hospital stay. The leaflet highlights the dangers of malnutrition and dehydration, and features helpful tips on avoiding these conditions. The guide also includes information on how to order meals and the types of food available if there are specific dietary requirements or religious preferences. The publication is available on the intranet for all ward sisters and charge nurses to print and hand to patients once they are admitted to a ward and use in preassessment clinics. Clinical Nutrition Specialist Practitioner, Susan Harding, says: It is vital patients are informed about nutrition and hydration at the earliest stage of their hospital stay. Through this leaflet we can help reduce the risks of patients developing things like kidney injuries and pressure ulcers, and inevitably lead to an earlier discharge. > Assessing needs > Patient Safety > Assessing needs > Patient Safety

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