It's been a very proud week at CHFT with the presentations of Exemplar Ward certificates.

They are given for high standards of patient care in all areas and every ward at CHFT is expected to undergo an exemplar visit every year.

A visit involves a Matron spending time on the ward where they see at first hand a medicine round, a mealtime and it also gives them the opportunity to speak to many different disciplines. They check out patient notes on EPR and there is also a nutrition element involving catering on the ward.

Exemplar Ward started around five years ago based on a model started by Salford and is backed by the CQC.

Our Matron of Service Performance, Janette Cockroft, said: “How proud we should be at the care and experience that our patients receive on the wards from all staff members involved in their care.

"Through the daily challenges within clinical areas there has been the opportunities through the Exemplar team accreditation to see safe and compassionate care being delivered and hear positive feedback from patients and carers. It has been an opportunity to share good practice and suggest ideas of how things can be changed often by just “seeing things through fresh eyes”. It is definitely time to celebrate.

"On a personal note I have had a greater insight into the different daily demands for our staff to manage, in areas that I am not familiar with, which is delivered with compassion, empathy and patience and staff still remain smiling.”   

Chief Nurse, Jackie Murphy, said she was thrilled that CHFT has concluded our nursing accreditation programme this year. She said: " This means every ward has been measured through a rigorous assurance process that includes, the environment, documentation and our patients' perspective of the care they have received.

"I’d like to thank colleagues involved in the accreditation and the wards themselves for their commitment to the process. It provides valuable information both on things we are doing well and things we can improve in order to provide outstanding compassionate care for our patients.”