Prevention of Delirium (PoD) - our pioneering trial approach to helping our patients with dementia and their families has been hailed by the Care Quality Commission – and we’ve seen improved patient outcomes as a result.
During their inspection in March the inspection team saw PoD in action on Wards 19 and 20 at HRI and have already told us they consider it to be best practice and, in their view, we are an exemplar site for the rest of the NHS.
Our staff on these wards (for elderly patients with complex care conditions) have been boosted by the introduction of Sixth Form student volunteers to engage, help them feed and provide extra interaction for our patients.
The volunteers provide extra support for both patients and their families. We have also introduced MyLife software – where photographs from a patient’s life including family and holidays are uploaded to a screen to help promote conversation and memory use.
They also help bring companionship and normality to the lives of older people at a time when they are frightened, isolated and anxious. This improves the mood and well-being of patients and reduces the likelihood of them developing delirium.
They spend time with patients who are confused and at risk of falling, and under careful supervision and guidance, help to reduce the risks of falls, infection and dehydration. They support people at mealtimes and encourage those who are reluctant to eat and drink.
They also gain valuable experience in frontline healthcare and many of them hope to secure careers in the NHS in the future.
One of them, Jacob Reynolds was a winner in our Celebrating Success Awards in 2014 when the scheme was launched. He was Volunteer of the Year and he is now studying medicine at Birmingham University.
He said: “Something as simple as just sitting quietly, holding hands and listening makes all the difference.”
And current student volunteer Jess Cadman (pictured in the attachment) told CHFT: "I’m really enjoying it so far, I’ve not been on ward 19 for long, and all the nurses and patients have been lovely. I think nursing might be a great career for me, and I'm glad I tried volunteering. It's a great way to get some experience and also to help me decide what I want to do with my life."
Our improved outcomes:
We’ve had no serious harm falls in the past two years. Previously they had averaged at around 3-4 a year.
In 2014 42.9% of Fractured Neck of Femur patients returned to their original place of residence compared to 37.4% in 2013.
On average we’re receiving between 0 and 1 complaints per month, compared to 3+ per month 3 years ago.