Having a good night’s sleep is essential for our inpatients. It supports the healing process and can help them leave hospital sooner. Disrupted sleep patterns have been linked to immune system dysfunction, reduced resistance to inflammation and infection, and slower wound healing.
Thanks to funding from our NHS Charity, all our inpatient wards have been provided with silent-close bins. We also know that colleagues on different wards, such as Ward 12 at HRI, are already promoting a better night’s sleep. In fact, they picked up a Star Award in 2022 for their work championing it.
Matron for Patient Experience, Alex Keaskin, said: “For me, it’s about living our values and stepping into others’ shoes. What helps you and me sleep is likely to be the same for our patients.
“Just a quick check to see that they are warm and comfortable, that they’ve had any pain medication they need, they’ve been to the toilet and offering them a warm drink, are some of the simple steps we can all take to help them have a better sleep.
“One of the most common things we hear from patients is that they feel very well cared for by compassionate colleagues, but that it’s often too noisy at night for them to sleep well, or sometimes at all.
“I know that managing noise levels on a busy ward can be tricky, but it is possible. From asking people to make sure their mobiles phones or devices are on silent or vibrate, talking quietly with others, to remembering to close ward doors quietly. It can be done.”
Our NHS Charity’s Communications and Marketing Assistant, Emily Overend, said: “We are very fortunate to have an amazing group of supporters. Without their generous contributions and donations, we wouldn’t have been able to fund the new bins. It’s great to know the Charity has been able to play a part in supporting a better experience for patients.”
Huge thanks go to our Waste Management Officer, Nigel Murphy, pictured below, who co-ordinated the big bin switchover on our wards.
Emily and Alex will be visiting ward areas this week to talk to colleagues about the importance of sleep and a checklist of simple tips to help our patients get a healing night's sleep. You can see it below.
