All next week, we're celebrating becoming one of the first Trusts in the country to join the Mencap-backed Treat Me Well campaign. Together with 14 other Trusts we're signing up to improve the care we offer to patients who need extra support during their care with us.
We already have a tremendous reputation for care in this area. We have a specially-designated Matron Amanda McKie who has been in post for 10 years this recent feedback to CT suite - see Amanda pictured with the team - shows just how good we are.
One Mum wrote to us..
“Thanks to your friendly and flexible staff they were able to get the scan done there and then without any of the stress we feared. Looking through David's health action plan I noticed a letter from a consultant some years ago in which he comments that what he would really like is a scan but of course that would be impossible with David. How wrong your team proved him yesterday.”
The campaign aims to highlight how simple adjustments can make a big difference in this area of care. 1,200 patients with a learning disability die avoidably in hospital each and every year.
Amanda said "I am really proud to be part of Royal Mencap's Treat Me Well campaign. It is really important to continue to raise awareness of the health needs of people with a learning disability. Training and education with colleagues about the needs of people with a learning disability is essential and this campaign will help to achieve that locally and nationally.
Being in the first phase will help us showcase the work we are already doing here at CHFT such as our VIP hospital passport and our radiology easy read leaflets that won Celebrating Success in 2010! We can share this with the other Trusts involved in the campaign, and we can also learn from other Trusts to ensure we continue to provide an excellent service to local people with a learning disability.
We asked Amanda to tell us more about her role here at CHFT:
When was your post created and what was the thinking behind it?
I started in post 1st September 2008 when the parents of a young man who died in our care campaigned for my post https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/analysis/never-again-parents-lead-the-way-in-changing-system-that-failed-their-son-1-2292496
They have just contacted me after 10 years and are really pleased the Trust is still passionate about improving the care people with a learning disability get at CHFT and that I am still in post.
How many new patients a week do you see?
We have on average 30-50 admissions per month to adult wards, of these some will be planned admissions. No one week is the same, I cover all adult ward across the Trust and support community colleagues including midwives!
We have about 350 new outpatient referrals per year, and I support people to have GP referred investigations this might be a blood test or CT scan.
Once a month we have a special needs blood clinic which has been a pilot scheme for just under 12 months and has been really successful.
What are the most common problems in this area of care?
The main reasons for admission tend to be for respiratory problems, followed by gastroenterology and neurology. Most planned admissions are for dental treatment and investigations in the endoscopy department.
How do you think we can get better?
Communication is the key! Adapting your communication to meet individual’s needs, using easy read and simple signage can make a big difference. Also when waiting, people with a learning disability, especially those who have additional autism, can find waiting very difficult and it can really affect the outcome of the clinic appointment or essential test they need.
Describe some areas of good practice you’ve seen?
The special needs dental list at Calderdale on 8D/DSU and main theatres with the Locala dental team has been running for years, but it really does offer a flexible service to meet individual’s needs. Having several investigations under one anaesthetic. One mum sent me feed-back saying how great the team were.
But I can’t forget the CT team. They have been supporting pre-visits and really offering a flexible service.
Can you tell us some of the feedback you receive.
I recently had a family tell me here at CHFT and in particular ward 17 have provided the most compassionate care ever!
From my thank you cards:
“I would like to say thank you for all your support you have given us, we really appreciate what you have done for us…. We may need you again”
“For all your care, kindness and support you gave our son on his recent procedure, many thanks you are a star!”