A must-do this week folks, as our topic is the national classic NHS Safety Thermometer.
Each ward and community area (excl paediatrics, neonatal and maternity) must complete it monthly - it gives valuable information about whether we are providing harm-free care to our patients in four key areas. So the more people trained in how to complete it the better.
It looks at the four most commonly occurring harms in healthcare: falls, urinary tract infections (UTIs) in patients with a catheter, pressure ulcers and venous thromboembolism VTE.
Data is collected and used to understand the proportion of patients affected, agree baselines, set improvement goals and detect change over time at a local, regional or national level.
But the Safety Thermometer is not only about data - it's what we do with that data that matters. It means we can use the information to raise awareness and put improvements in place for patient care.
More information:
- The classic safefty thermometer is always submitted on the second Wednesday of every month - this is on every ward and out in the community
- It is mandatory for every area - if a single ward or area misses the deadline it has to be repeated by all (classic thermometer)
- There are separate thermometers for Paeds, Neonatal & Maternity - and these are submitted on a different day
- At least one person per shift should know how to complete the form - ward manager, ward sisters etc
- It can be completed any time after midnight on second Wednesday of the month - but must be by 2pm that day
Training is available – please contact clinical governance dept x2858 (HRI)
Upcoming dates for submitting the classic safety thermometer (not paeds, neonatal or maternity)
- Weds 12th December
- Weds 9th January 2019
- Weds 13 February 2019
- Weds 13 March 2019